Further Study of the Occurrence of the Excitonic Phase Transition in Bismuth under Strong Magnetic Fields by Ultrasonic Attenuation

Abstract

A previous measurement of the anomalous temperature dependence of the giant quantum attenuation of longitudinal sound waves in bismuth under strong magnetic fields was extended down to 1.06 K, and further evidence for the occurrence of the excitonic phase transition was obtained. The plot of sound attenuation versus temperature in the anomalous case showed a roundish convex curve near a maximum located at a point a little below T c , a temperature parameter to be identified with the phase transition point. This temperature dependence of the attenuation is well explained in terms of the critical fluctuation and a modified form of Maki-Nakanishi's formula of the attenuation of the excitonic state in the absence of field. The transition temperature, the critical exponent and other parameters to specify the anomalous attenuation curve near T c are evaluated for several cases of a parameter related to the energy difference between the hole and electron Landau levels in the normal state.