Validation of constant mean free path and relaxation time approximations for metal resistivity: explicit treatment of electron-phonon interactions

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Autori principali: Lim, Subeen, Kim, Yumi, Maeng, Gyungho, Lee, Yeonghun
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Lim, Subeen
Kim, Yumi
Maeng, Gyungho
Lee, Yeonghun
author_facet Lim, Subeen
Kim, Yumi
Maeng, Gyungho
Lee, Yeonghun
contents The figure of merit $ρλ$ the product of resistivity and mean free path (MFP) evaluated from first-principles calculations, is widely adopted to screen promising interconnect metals with high electrical conductivity at ultranarrow dimensions. However, the $ρλ$ has been calculated without addressing the validity of the assumption that the MFP is independent of the wavevector $\mathbf{k}$. Here, we assess the validity of the constant MFP approximation, by estimating the $\mathbf{k}$-dependent MFPs for (an)isotropic elemental metals, with explicit treatment of electron-phonon interactions. Additionally, we verify the validity of the constant relaxation time approximation (CRTA) for resistivity calculations. We show that both the constant MFP approximation and CRTA are reasonable even for highly anisotropic Fermi surfaces. Our results support the practical use of those approximations in transport studies, where explicit electron-phonon calculations are not feasible.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_06146
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Validation of constant mean free path and relaxation time approximations for metal resistivity: explicit treatment of electron-phonon interactions
Lim, Subeen
Kim, Yumi
Maeng, Gyungho
Lee, Yeonghun
Materials Science
The figure of merit $ρλ$ the product of resistivity and mean free path (MFP) evaluated from first-principles calculations, is widely adopted to screen promising interconnect metals with high electrical conductivity at ultranarrow dimensions. However, the $ρλ$ has been calculated without addressing the validity of the assumption that the MFP is independent of the wavevector $\mathbf{k}$. Here, we assess the validity of the constant MFP approximation, by estimating the $\mathbf{k}$-dependent MFPs for (an)isotropic elemental metals, with explicit treatment of electron-phonon interactions. Additionally, we verify the validity of the constant relaxation time approximation (CRTA) for resistivity calculations. We show that both the constant MFP approximation and CRTA are reasonable even for highly anisotropic Fermi surfaces. Our results support the practical use of those approximations in transport studies, where explicit electron-phonon calculations are not feasible.
title Validation of constant mean free path and relaxation time approximations for metal resistivity: explicit treatment of electron-phonon interactions
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.06146