A slightly relativistic fermion gas is described by the dynamical theory obtained from the Wigner distribution function. The problem is approached in a self-consistent manner including the two-body Darwin Hamiltonian. The goal is to find the departures from equilibrium and dispersion relations for wave propagation in the gas.

The Sondheimer theory was tested by looking for oscillatory phenomena in a group of single crystals representing a range in dimensions from matchbox geometry to thin-film geometry. The single crystals were identical with respect to impurity content, strain, orientation, surface condition, and probe placement.

If a physical dimension of a metallic specimen is comparable with, or smaller than, the mean free path of the conduction electrons, then the observed electrical conductivity will be less than that of a conventional bulk sample. This phenomenon is called a size effect, and is the result of electron scattering from the specimen surfaces. In the present investigation, measurements were made on electropolished monocrystalline specimens ranging from matchbox geometry to thick-film geometry in order to obtain further information on the size effect in bismuth at liquid helium temperatures.