The effect of pressure on extreme magnetoresistance and superconductivity in LaBi

ORAL

Abstract

Extreme magnetoresistance (XMR) in topological semimetals is a recent discovery which attracts attention due to its robust appearance in a growing number of materials. To search for a relation between XMR and superconductivity, we study the effect of pressure on LaBi taking advantage of its simple structure and simple composition. By increasing pressure, we observe the disappearance of XMR followed by the appearance of superconductivity at P $=$ 3.5 GPa. We find a region of coexistence between superconductivity and XMR in LaBi in contrast to other superconducting XMR materials. The suppression of XMR is correlated with increasing zero-field resistance instead of decreasing in-field resistance. At higher pressures, P $=$ 11 GPa, we find a structural transition from the face center cubic lattice to a primitive tetragonal lattice, in agreement with theoretical predictions. The relationship between extreme magnetoresistance, superconductivity, and structural transition in LaBi is discussed.

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Authors

  • Fazel Tafti

    Boston College

  • Milton Torikachvili

    San Diego State University

  • Ryan Stillwell

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Bruce Baer

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Elissaios Stavrou

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Sam Weir

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Yogesh Vohra

    University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham

  • Hung-Yu Yang

    Boston College

  • Evan McDonnell

    Boston College

  • Satya Kushwaha

    Princeton University

  • Quinn Gibson

    Princeton University, Department of Chemistry, Princeton University

  • R. J. Cava

    Princeton, Department of Chemistry Princeton University, Princeton University, Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton University, USA, Princeton Univ

  • Jason Jeffries

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory