Possible co-existence of local itinerancy and global localization in a quasi-one-dimensional conductor

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of large transverse magnetoresistance in PrBa₂Cu₄O₈, indicating a coexistence of local itinerancy and global localization in a quasi-one-dimensional conductor, revealing a novel localization phenomenon.

Contribution

It introduces evidence for a new form of localization where electrons maintain local metallic behavior despite macroscopically appearing localized.

Findings

Large transverse magnetoresistance observed in the localized regime

Electrons exhibit local metallic behavior despite global localization

Reveals coexistence of itinerancy and localization in the material

Abstract

In the chain compound PrBa$_2$Cu$_4$O$_8$ localization appears simultaneously with a dimensional crossover in the electronic ground state when the scattering rate in the chains exceeds the hopping rate between the chains. Here we report the discovery of a large, transverse magnetoresistance in PrBa$_2$Cu$_4$O$_8$ in the localized regime. This result suggests a novel form of localization whereby electrons retain their metallic (quasi-one-dimensional) character over a microscopic length scale despite the fact that macroscopically, they exhibit localized (one-dimensional) behavior.