Electronic structure of metals

Previously published results of an energy independent model pseudopotential calculation have been applied to evaluate the density of states effective masses, m*, at the Fermi level for the alkali metals in both solid and liquid phases. The results thus obtained are used to reduce the range of the uncertainties (i) in the existing theoretical values for m* and the electron-phonon coupling parameters and (ii) in the existing experimental values for the electronic specific-heat coefficients and the paramagnetic spin susceptibilities for the heavy solid alkali metals. Also, these results show that the change in the Fermi level density of states effective mass on melting is larger for the heavy alkali metals than for the lighter alkali metals. (author)