Measurements of the Hall constant and conductivity of cuprous oxide show that the exponential law of temperature dependence is not obeyed. It is shown that the departure from this law is caused by a loss of conduction holes with time, and an anomalous decrease in the mean free path in the vicinity of 100°C. An experiment is described which indicates that the rate of aging at 100°C is increased by the application of an electric field.

• Received 13 July 1942

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.62.371