Superconductivity of lanthanum

An analysis of existing experimental data on the superconductivity of lanthanum shows that the BCS electron-phonon mechanism of superconductivity is still valid for lanthanum. The principal factor causing the comparatively high transition temperature T/sub c/ in lanthanum is the large average value of the electron-phonon interaction matrix element , caused by the d and f hybridization in the energy band structure of lanthanum. It is important to take advantage of these factors in the search of superconducting alloys and compounds containing lanthanum