Theory 26/High-Pressure Physics
Metallisation Closes a Gap
The claim
Pressure-induced metallisation occurs when the band gap falls below the thermal energy scale rather than at a fixed pressure, so warmer samples metallise sooner.
01The mechanism
Conduction requires thermally accessible states; as the gap closes, temperature supplies the carriers before the gap vanishes.
02Predictions
- P1Metallisation pressure should fall with temperature.
- P2Gap closure alone should mispredict.
03Refutation
Metallisation at a fixed pressure regardless of temperature would remove the thermal term.