The transverse magnetoresistance of high strength copper alloys.

Two high strength alloys of copper, .12% Zr and .3% Cr, were investigated for residual resistance and transverse magnetoresistance at fields up to 10 Vs/m^2. The measurements were made at liquid nitrogen and liquid helium temperatures. The material was in the form of wire of diameter .0025 inch. For comparison purposes commercial grade copper magnet wire, #40 gauge, was also tested. The copper showed a relative increase in resistivity deltap/p of 2.5 at 10 Vs/m^2. Corresponding figures for the zirconium and chromium alloys were up to 1.0 and up to .065 respectively. This wide variation in magnetoresistance is shown to be mainly due to the difference in residual resistance, by Kohler’s Rule. The maximum resistance ratios obtained were 100 for copper, 70 for Zr-Cu, and 30 for Cr-Cu. When the results are plotted on Kohler diagrams, the zirconium alloy shows transverse magnetoresistance from 25% to 80% higher than copper. The chromium alloy varied from 20% less to 30% higher than copper