The Effect of the Exchange Interaction on the Electron-Phonon Interaction in Metals

Abstract

The effect of the exchange interaction between electrons on the electron-phonon interaction in metals is studied within the generalized random phase approximation. The phonon frequency of a metal is found to be closely related to the magnetic susceptibility of the metal. The sound velocity of the jellium model, for instance, is inversely proportional to the square root of the paramagnetic spin susceptibility. In particular, in the jellium model the occurrence of a charge density wave and a spin density wave is found to be simultaneous. Finally, the electron-phonon coupling constant λ is found to be enhanced significantly by the exchange interaction.