A simple theory of the electron-phonon mass enhancement in transition metals

Abstract

Using information available from band structure calculations, neutron scattering experiments and a simple theory of the electron-phonon coupling. The mass enhancement factor lambda is calculated for ten transition metals: Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, W, Re, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt. For the superconducting elements the results are in good qualitative and in reasonable quantitative agreement with the empirical values of lambda obtained from data on the superconducting transition temperature. The magnitude of lambda in the nonsuperconducting metals is discussed.