Complex Structures in 'Simple' Metals
Complex Structures in 'Simple' Metals
- Event time: 1:00pm
- Event date: 7th October 2002
- Speaker: I. R. Macleod (University of Edinburgh)
- Location: Room 2511, James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) James Clerk Maxwell Building Peter Guthrie Tait Road Edinburgh EH9 3FD GB
Event details
Simple metals are characterised by an almost spherical Fermi surface, and are well described within the Nearly Free Electron (NFE) model. Under ambient conditions these metals adopt highly symmetric structures, and it was assumed that transitions to other close packed structures would follow with increasing pressure. However calculations have predicted and experiment verified that low symmetry 'complex' structures are adopted under high pressure. In this talk I will review the behaviour exhibited by these metals under pressure and discuss tentative ideas that may explain the structural response to pressure.
About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars
This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..