The pressure dependence of nuclear spin lattice relaxation (NSLR) in semimetallic arsenic (0–2 GPa) and antimony (0–1.4 GPa) at ambient temperature has been investigated by means of ${}^{75}\mathrm{As},$ ${}^{121}\mathrm{Sb},$ and ${}^{123}\mathrm{Sb}$ nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR). Previous investigations indicate that relaxation in these materials is dominated by magnetic nucleus–carrier interactions. NSLR measurements therefore provide information on the carrier and Fermi surface properties. Our results indicate that antimony becomes more metallic under pressure, while arsenic becomes less metallic. This is consistent with previous experimental and theoretical results. The NQR measurements are, in particular, sensitive to changes in the s-wave character of the carriers. The NQR results are compared with previous experimental and theoretical studies of the electronic structure of the Group V semimetals.

• Received 26 July 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.63.115111