Quantum oscillations and coherent interlayer transport in a new topological Dirac semimetal candidate YbMnSb2

Abstract

Dirac semimetals (DSMs), which host Dirac fermions and represent new state of quantum matter, have been studied intensively in condensed matter physics. The exploration of new materials with topological states is im- portant in both physics and materials science. In this article, we report the synthesis and the transport properties of high quality single crystals of YbMnSb$_2$. YbMnSb$_2$ is a new compound with metallic behavior. Quantum oscillations, including Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillation and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) type oscillation, have been observed at low temperature and high magnetic field. Small effective masses and nontrivial Berry phase are extracted from the analyses of quantum oscillations, which provide the transport evidence for the possible existence of Dirac fermions in YbMnSb$_2$. The measurements of angular-dependent interlayer magnetoresistance (MR) indicate the interlayer transport is coherent. The Fermi surface (FS) of YbMnSb$_2$ possesses quasi-two dimensional (2D) characteristic as determined by the angular dependence of SdH oscillation frequency. These findings suggest that YbMnSb$_2$ is a new candidate of topological Dirac semimetal.