Evidence of interference between electron-phonon and electron-impurity scattering on the conductivity of thin metal films.

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the resistivity p of thin gold films (thickness d=100-400 A) has been measured at T=30 mK-300 K. In a wide temperature range below θ D /15 (θ D is the Debye temperature) Δρ(T)/p is proportional to T 2 and does not depend on the mean free path of electrons. Experimental determinations of the dependences Δρ(T)/ρ in this temperature range are in good agreement with the correction to the impurity resistivity of a normal metal due to the quantum interference between the electron-phonon and electron-impurity interactions