On the Herzfeld theory of metallization. Application to doped semiconductors, electronhyphen;hole liquids in semiconductors, and expanded states of simple metals

摘要

On classical grounds, Herzfeld in 1927 proposed a model which predicted that an element would become metallic when its molar volume became equal to or less than its refractivity. Recently, Ross has investigated this criterion by comparing its predictions with calculations on the rare gases and hydrogen, and with high pressure experiments on iodine and the alkali halides. Ross's investigation is here supplemented by applying the criterion to several systems of low density, and again Herzfeld's model is found to be surprisingly accurate. A connection with Mott's theory for the metalhyphen;nonmetal transition is briefly mentioned.