Electron-phonon scattering rates in noble metals from magnetoacoustic experiments

The temperature dependence of the carrier scattering rate in copper, silver, and gold at low temperatures has been determined from magnetoacoustic data. Both the (100) central belly orbit and the (110) dogs-bone orbit exhibit a T³ dependence in all three metals. For copper and silver the coefficients of the corresponding term in the scattering rate agree well with those obtained from radiofrequency size-effect experiments. Previously reported discrepancies between the results for copper obtained by the two techniques are discussed and tentatively resolved. No effects due to electron-electron scattering are observed. Differences in the scattering rates between the noble metals appear to be primarily correlated with changes in the phonon density of states.Work supported by National Science Foundation.