Ab initio bandstructure of lead

The self-consistent semi-relativistic APW method has been employed to calculate the bandstructure of lead and its electronic density of states from first principles. The results of the calculation agree with optical and specific heat data to within 30 and 1% respectively. Calculated frequencies for the second band hole surface agree with experimental Fermi surface results to within 4%. An application of the bandstructure results to the study of the electron-phonon interaction and superconductivity is made including the variation of these properties upon alloying lead with bismuth. These results are also in good agreement with experiment and demonstrate the increase of the superconducting transition temperature for the Pb-Bi alloys.