Calculation of the residual resistivity based on multiple-plane-waves and iterative solutions to the Boltzmann equation: Application to aluminium alloys

We describe a multiple-plane-wave pseudopotential calculation for the residual resistivity in alloys. The electronic wavefunctions, the Fermi surface, and the scattering rates are all determined from a 4-OPW calculation, while the mean free path is determined from an iterative technique which is developed for solving the Boltzmann equation. Numerical results obtained for Al alloys reveal that in many cases the OPW-mixing leads to dramatic enhancement of the residual resistivity over the free electron value, and that this enhancement improves agreement with experiment.