On the Origin of Non-Saturating Linear Magnetoresistivity

Abstract

The observation of non-saturating classical linear magnetoresistivity has been an enigmatic phenomenon in solid state physics. We present a study of a two-dimensional ohmic conductor, including local Hall effect and a self-consistent consideration of the environment. An equivalent-circuit scheme delivers a simple and convincing argument why the magnetoresistivity is linear in strong magnetic field, provided that current and biasing electric field are misaligned by a nonlocal mechanism. A finite-element model of a two-dimensional conductor is suited to display the situations that create such deviating currents. Besides edge effects next to electrodes, charge carrier density fluctuations are efficiently generating this effect. However, mobility fluctuations that have frequently been related to linear magnetoresistivity are barely relevant. Despite its rare observation, linear magnetoresitivity is rather the rule than the exception in a regime of low charge carrier densities, misaligned current pathways and strong magnetic field.

arXiv commentOne Manuscript incl. 9 pages manuscript and 8 pages supporting information

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Cited by in corpus (16)

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• Magneto-transport and Electronic Structures of BaZnBi${}_2$
• Direct link between disorder, mobility and magnetoresistance in topological semimetals
• Quantitative evaluation of Dirac physics in PbTe
• Structural and Optoelectronic Properties of Thin Film LaWN${}_3$
• Impurity and dispersion effects on the linear magnetoresistance in the quantum limit
• Inhomogeneous superconductivity and quasilinear magnetoresistance at amorphous LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces
• Quantum magnetoresistance of Weyl semimetals with strong Coulomb disorder
• Constraints on proximity-induced ferromagnetism in a Dirac semimetal (Cd${}_3$As${}_2$)/ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga${}_{1-x}$Mn${}_x$Sb) heterostructure
• Giant and Linear Magnetoresistance in Liquid Metals at Ambient Temperature
• Quantum Linear Magnetoresistance: A Modern Perspective
• Fractional Quantum Hall plateaus in mosaic-like conductors