The phase of the de Haas–van Alphen oscillations, the Berry phase, and band-contact lines in metals

Abstract

It is pointed out that measurements of the phase of the de Haas–van Alphen oscillations can give information on the degeneracy of electron-energy bands in a metal even though this degeneracy occurs far away from its Fermi level. As an illustration of this statement, the published experimental data on the de Haas–van Alphen effect in LaRhIn5, graphite, and zinc are discussed.