The electrical conductivity of thin films of the alkali metals spontaneously deposited on glass surfaces

A description is given of an investigation of the electrical conductivity of the invisible thin films of the alkali metals which are deposited spontaneously on the walls of an enclosure in which they are sealed in vacuo . The resistivity of the films decreases in the order potassium, rubidium, caesium. The resistivity of the rubidium film is in reasonable agreement with a previous measurement given by Ives and Johnsrud. Some evidence is adduced in support of the view reached by the above workers that the thicknesses of these spontaneous deposits are of the order of those of monatomic layers.