8. Physical measurements on liquid metals

The various physical property measurements that may be made on liquid metals and alloys are reviewed with specific reference to the type of information on the nature of the liquid metal state that may be obtained from them. The properties include diffraction of X-rays and neutrons, changes in density on melting or alloying, viscosity, surface tension, electrical resistance, thermoelectric power, magnetic susceptibility, Knight shift and Hall coefficient. An example is given of the application of a number of such techniques to a study of the form in which oxygen exists in liquid cesium.

1. The various properties of liquid metals and alloys which can provide information on their characteristics are listed in Table 1. Clearly in a thirty minute talk, it is only possible to touch briefly on the sort of data which each measurement will provide and I shall restrict myself entirely to a qualitative discussion and avoid complicating the issue by attempting to describe any mathematical relationships that have been derived.