Residual atomic behavior of (sp)-impurities in a Mg host

The spin-orbit scattering cross section of many different impurities (Cu, Zn, Ga, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Au, Tl, Pb, Bi) in Mg is measured by means of weak localization. We find two distinct dependences of σₛₒ. (i) For the same valence of the impurity σₛₒ shows a powerlaw as a function of the atomic number Z as Zᵖ with p{}5 for the noble metals, and (ii) σₛₒ depends on the valence of the impurity; for s impurities σₛₒ is considerably smaller than for p impuruties. This suggests that the atomic electronic wave functions are quite well preserved after dissolving the atom.