Electrical resistance changes of germanium during solidification under high pressure

Changes in electrical resistance of germanium were investigated during melting and cooling under high pressure. It was found that the electrical resistances of the samples dropped abruptly at an early stage of the solidification above similar to 4 GPa. This result shows a metallic Liquid to metallic solid transition of germanium when cooling above similar to 4 GPa as compared to a metallic liquid to nonmetallic solid transition at-pressures below similar to 4 GPa. The mechanism of the phase evolution in the solidification process of germanium at high pressures is briefly discussed. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.