Large linear magnetoresistance in Dirac semimetalCd3As2with Fermi surfaces close to the Dirac points

Abstract

We have investigated the magnetoresistive behavior of Dirac semi-metal Cd3As2 down to low temperatures and in high magnetic fields. A positive and linear magnetoresistance (LMR) as large as 3100% is observed in a magnetic field of 14 T, on high-quality single crystals of Cd3As2 with ultra-low electron density and large Lande g factor. Such a large LMR occurs when the magnetic field is applied perpendicular to both the current and the (100) surface, and when the temperature is low such that the thermal energy is smaller than the Zeeman splitting energy. Tilting the magnetic field or raising the temperature all degrade the LMR, leading to a less pronounced quadratic behavior. We propose that the phenomenon of LMR is related to the peculiar field-induced shifting/distortion of the helical electrons' Fermi surfaces in momentum space.