ELECTRON DELOCALIZATION IN ALPHA-NITROGEN

A new technique has been developed for measuring electron drift mobili ty in crystals on a microscopic scale through its effect on muonium (m u(+)e(-)) atom formation via transport of electrons to thermalized pos itive muons (mu(+)). Electron transport mechanisms are shown to be fun damentally different in the alpha and beta phases of solid nitrogen, g iving at least 5 orders of magnitude difference in electron mobilities . Contrary to reported results of macroscopic time-of-fight measuremen ts, excess electrons appear to be delocalized in alpha-N-2.