The Electrical Resistivity and Specific Heat of NiGa

The electrical resistivity and specific heat of NiGa were measured between 5 and 296 K and between 1.07 and 300 K, respectively, at zero magnetic field. This compound is metallic as shown from the room-temperature resistivity value (37.4 mu Omega cm). The residual resistivity ratio is 1.32, which indicates the defect scattering dominates at low temperatures. The density of states at the Fermi energy and the Debye temperature obtained from the low-temperature specific-heat measurement are 1.48 states/eV formula unit and 202 K, respectively. The former is much higher than the value for NiAl. This observation suggests that the Ni d-band in NiGa is not completely filled.