Magnetic field induced strong valley polarization in the three-dimensional topological semimetal LaBi

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Nitesh Kumar - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Chandra Shekhar - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • J. Klotz - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • J. Wosnitza - , Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Claudia Felser - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)

Abstract

LaBi is a three-dimensional rocksalt-type material with a surprisingly quasi-two-dimensional electronic structure. It exhibits excellent electronic properties such as the existence of nontrivial Dirac cones, extremely large magnetoresistance, and high charge-carrier mobility. The cigar-shaped electron valleys make the charge transport highly anisotropic when the magnetic field is varied from one crystallographic axis to another. We show that the electrons can be polarized effectively in these electron valleys under a rotating magnetic field. We achieved a polarization of 60% at 2 K despite the coexistence of three-dimensional hole pockets. The valley polarization in LaBi is compared to the sister compound LaSb where it is found to be smaller. The performance of LaBi is comparable to the highly efficient bismuth.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number161103
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume96
Issue number16
Publication statusPublished - 3 Oct 2017
Peer-reviewedYes