ELECTRICAL-RESISTANCE OF AN ELASTICALLY BENT THIN METAL WIRE IN A MAGNETIC-FIELD

If the mean free path of charge carriers is sufficiently large compared to sample dimensions, the resistance of a straight wire increases as it is elastically bent. We have studied this effect in Bi, Sn, and Zn in the presence of a magnetic field and find that for magnetic fields perpendicular to the plane containing the bent sample, the resistance is not changed by reversal of sample current or magnetic-field direction. These results are discussed in connection with a classical theoretical model of charge carriers which predicts that such a change would occur. As the magnetic field is increased the bending effect decreases and at sufficiently large fields it vanishes. This result reinforces our interpretation that the bending effect is caused by enhanced surface scattering due to the change in sample geometry. © 1979 The American Physical Society.