Anomalous Resistivities ofA15Metals—Insights from Band Theory

Abstract

Electronic density of states, mean-square velocity, and Drude plasma energy are computed from previously reported energy bands for ${\mathrm{Nb}}_3$Ge and ${\mathrm{Nb}}_3$Al. These results, together with the empirical electron-phonon coupling constant deduced from the high superconducting $T_c$, are used to analyze resistivity. Extremely short phonon-limited mean free paths are found. Qualitative and quantitative ideas of saturating resistivity are consistent with our results.