Attenuation of ultrasonic waves in V, Nb and Ta at low temperatures Original Research Article

Variation of ultrasonic attenuation and velocities with temperature have been evaluated in the temperature range 5–50 K due to electron–phonon interaction mechanism in transition metals vanadium, niobium and tantalum for longitudinal and shear waves. For this evaluation, we have also computed the second order elastic constants using Morse potential. Behaviour of acoustical phonons in these bcc metals is different from other normal metals, intermetallics, semimetallics and alloys. Some characteristic features of these materials connected to ultrasonic parameters are discussed.