Mott transitions in Na:Ar and Cu:Ar mixtures

Abstract

The metal-to-nonmetal (MNM) transitions observed in Na:Ar and Cu:Ar mixtures at low temperatures have been studied by means of Mott's model for such transitions. Pseudopotential and ab initio type calculations predict critical densities which are in excellent agreement with experimental estimates. It is therefore argued that the observed MNM transitions are due to cooperative electron interaction effects, as in Mott's model. The MNM transition associated with the liquid-vapor transition of the pure metallic systems is also briefly discussed.