Anisotropy of the Temperature-Dependent Resistivity of Tin between 8 and 300 °K

Electrical-resistivity measurements have been performed on five single crystals of pure tin in the temperature interval 8-300 ^∘{}K. From these measurements, the temperature-dependent anisotropy (a=ρ_∥ρ_⊥) of the electrical resistivity has been determined. A striking maximum in the a-versus-T curve is noted at T≈20 ^∘{}K. The features of this curve at high, intermediate, and low temperatures are interpreted in terms of a simplified model for an anisotropic metal. The model predicts that the a-versus-T curve for all electrically anisotropic metals with anisotropy a_∞ as T→∞ will exhibit a maximum aₘₐₓ=a_∞² at intermediate or low temperatures.