The second and third order elastic constants of alkali metals

The second and third order elastic constants of the alkali metals have been calculated on the long wave method using the Heine-Abarenkov lacal model potential with different exchange-correlation corrections. It is found that the use of an exchange correlation correction which satisfies the compressibility sum rule leads to a good agreement between the calculated and measured second order elastic constants of the alkali metals Na, K, Rb and Cs. The shear elastic constants however come out correct even if the compressibility sum rule is violated by the exchange-correlation correction. The third order elastic constants and the pressure derivatives of the second order elastic constants and the pressure derivatives of the second order elastic constants calculated on the HA local potential are lower than the experimental values at room temperature. The discrepancy is pronounced for the heavier alkali metals. Similar calculations using the Wallace potential for Li, Na and K and the Schneider-Stoll potential for Rb give the pressure derivative in good agreement with experiment. In view of the important role by the exchange correlation correction, Suzuki's results calculated without taking this correction into account can only be accepted with some reservation.