Magnetic-field induced resistivity minimum with in-plane linear magnetoresistance of the Fermi liquid in SrTiO3-x single crystals

TL;DR

This study uncovers novel magnetotransport behaviors in SrTiO3-x single crystals at low temperatures, including a magnetic-field induced resistivity minimum and in-plane linear magnetoresistance, linked to oxygen vacancy inhomogeneity.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of quantum linear magnetoresistance caused by oxygen vacancy inhomogeneity in SrTiO3-x, advancing understanding of magnetotransport in Fermi liquids.

Findings

Resistivity minimum induced by magnetic field in perpendicular orientation.

Linear magnetoresistance observed in-plane at low fields.

Strong surface interlayer scattering due to oxygen vacancy gradient.

Abstract

We report novel magnetotransport properties of the low temperature Fermi liquid in SrTiO3-x single crystals. The classical limit dominates the magnetotransport properties for a magnetic field perpendicular to the sample surface and consequently a magnetic-field induced resistivity minimum emerges. While for the field applied in plane and normal to the current, the linear magnetoresistance (MR) starting from small fields (< 0.5 T) appears. The large anisotropy in the transverse MRs reveals the strong surface interlayer scattering due to the large gradient of oxygen vacancy concentration from the surface to the interior of SrTiO3-x single crystals. Moreover, the linear MR in our case was likely due to the inhomogeneity of oxygen vacancies and oxygen vacancy clusters, which could provide experimental evidences for the unusual quantum linear MR proposed by Abrikosov [A. A. Abrikosov, Phys. Rev. B 58, 2788 (1998)].