SKEW SCATTERING AND THE HALL EFFECT IN LIQUID METALS

Abstract
Skew scattering is the lack of symmetry of the scattering probability between initial and final states. Its effect in the Boltzmann equation is of a similar form to that of a magnetic field, and thus it contributes directly to the Hall coefficient. The anti-symmetric part of the scattering probability must be proportional to [MATH]. ([MATH]), where [MATH] and [MATH] are the initial and final momenta and [MATH] is some axial vector. Three different choices for [MATH] are known to be relevant. [MATH] (electron spin) : Spin-orbit scattering is responsible for the deviations of the Hall coefficients of some simple metals from the free electron value. [MATH] (orbital angular momentum of the occupied states) : Exchange scattering can be important in partially filled narrow bands. Its contribution in transition metals is an order of magnitude greater than that of spin-orbit scattering. It makes a significant contribution to the Hall coefficients of liquid transition metals, but does not seem to be large enough to account for the observed results. [MATH] : A modification of the scattering amplitude by the Zeeman energy, first suggested by Chambers, may be appreciable near a scattering resonance, but seems to be too small to explain the Hall effect in liquid transition metals.