Quantum contribution to magnetotransport in weak magnetic fields and negative longitudinal magnetoresistance

Abstract

Longitudinal magnetoresistance (LMR) refers to the change in resistance due to a magnetic field when the current and the magnetic field are parallel to each other. For this to be nonzero in weak magnetic fields, kinetic theory stipulates that the electronic dispersion must satisfy certain conditions: it should either be sufficiently anisotropic or have topological features. The former results in a positive LMR, while the latter results in a negative LMR. Here, I propose a different mechanism that leads to LMR in any dispersion without a need to satisfy the above requirements. The mechanism is quantum in origin but is applicable in the said regime. It arises due to the change in the density of states with the magnetic field and is not kinetic in origin. Remarkably, LMR is found to be negative even if the dispersion is nontopological, provided it is nonparabolic. An analytical expression is derived for this contribution to LMR. It is found to depend on the orbital magnetic susceptibility. The analytical findings are confirmed by numerical calculations.