False spin zeros in the angular dependence of magnetic quantum oscillations in quasi-two-dimensional metals

Abstract

The interplay between angular and quantum magnetoresistance oscillations in quasi-two-dimensional metals leads to the angular oscillations of the amplitude of quantum oscillations. This effect becomes pronounced in high magnetic field, when the simple factorization of the angular and quantum oscillations is not valid. The amplitude of quantum magnetoresistance oscillations is reduced at the Yamaji angles, i.e. at the maxima of the angular magnetoresistance oscillations. These angular beats of the amplitude of quantum oscillations resemble and may be confused with the spin-zero effect, coming from the Zeeman splitting. The proposed effect of "false spin zeros" becomes stronger in the presence of incoherent channels of interlayer electron transport and can be used to separate the different contributions to the Dingle temperature and to check for violations from the standard factorization of angular and quantum magnetoresistance oscillations.