After more than a century of experimental study, an explanation of the electrical properties of liquid metals is now available. Concepts such as “nearly free electrons,” “pseudopotentials” and “pseudo‐atoms” have helped to solve the problem. But an exact description of what happens when the orderly solid crystal melts into the disordered liquid remains a challenge.
EXCELLENT DETERMINATIONS of the electrical conductivity of liquid mercury were made by Matthiessen, Siemens and others in the early 1860’s; it is a measure of the vitality of this branch of science that the explanation of the magnitude of this familiar physical constant is still controversial; until five years ago, we could not even explain its order of magnitude.
References
1. N. E. Cusack “The electronic properties of liquid metals” in Reports on Progress in Physics (London: Physical Society) 26, 361 (1963).https://doi.org/RPPHAG
2. J. M. Ziman “The method of neutral pseudo-atoms in the theory of metals” in Advances in Physics 13, 89 (1964).https://doi.org/ADPHAH
3. J. F. Enderby and N. H. March “Inter-atomic forces and the structure of liquids” in Advances in Physics 14, 453 (1965).https://doi.org/ADPHAH
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October 01, 2025 12:00 AM
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Physics Today - The Week in Physics
The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.
