Localization and electron-interaction effects in metallic glasses

Magnetoresistance measurements have been made on amorphous Lu₇₅{Pd}₂₅$ and ${Lu}₇₅Ni₂₅ alloys. In the absence of contributions from spin-splitting interaction (because of the high spin-orbit scattering rate 1/τ_so10¹⁴ s^-1) and superconducting fluctuations, direct comparison of experimental data with three-dimensional weak localization theory can be made. Our results follow the trend predicted by theory, but are about 20% larger. Interaction effects with a negative screening parameter can explain both the discrepancy and the order of magnitude of resistivity {ρ}(T). We obtain the inelastic scattering time τᵢ(T){}2×{}10^-10{T}^{{{-}}2}$ s which can be attributed to electron-phonon processes in disordered metals, according to the theory of Bergmann and Takayama. Prior results obtained for amorphous ${Zr}₄₀Cu₆₀ are discussed only qualitatively as this alloy does exhibit superconducting fluctuations above 0.5 K.