The density of states of b.c.c. Nb3Au: A comparison with A-15 Nb3Au

When Nb₃Au is converted from the A-15 structure to the b.c.c. allotrope, a sharp decrease in the superconducting transition temperature, T_c, occurs (11.1 to 1.5 K). To study possible causes for this sharp decrease, specific heat measurements have been made on the b.c.c. form of Nb₃Au yielding values of γ=19.2 mJ/mole-K², β=0.274 mJ/mole-K⁴ and θ_D=305 K. These parameters compared with published values for the A-15 Nb₃Au indicate that a sharp drop in the density of states at the Fermi level, N(0), occurs when the A-15 structure is converted to the b.c.c. form.