Quantum Oscillations and Coherent Interlayer Transport in a New Topological Dirac Semimetal Candidate: YbMnSb$_2$

TL;DR

This study reports the synthesis and transport measurements of YbMnSb₂, revealing quantum oscillations and coherent interlayer transport, suggesting it as a new candidate topological Dirac semimetal with quasi-2D Fermi surface features.

Contribution

The paper introduces YbMnSb₂ as a new topological Dirac semimetal candidate with observed quantum oscillations and coherent interlayer transport, expanding the class of topological materials.

Findings

Quantum oscillations observed at low temperature and high magnetic field.

Small effective masses and nontrivial Berry phase indicate Dirac fermions.

Interlayer magnetoresistance shows coherent transport and quasi-2D Fermi surface.

Abstract

Dirac semimetals (DSMs), which host Dirac fermions and represent new state of quantum matter, have been studied intensively in condensed matter physics. The exploration of new materials with topological states is im- portant in both physics and materials science. In this article, we report the synthesis and the transport properties of high quality single crystals of YbMnSb$_2$. YbMnSb$_2$ is a new compound with metallic behavior. Quantum oscillations, including Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillation and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) type oscillation, have been observed at low temperature and high magnetic field. Small effective masses and nontrivial Berry phase are extracted from the analyses of quantum oscillations, which provide the transport evidence for the possible existence of Dirac fermions in YbMnSb$_2$. The measurements of angular-dependent interlayer magnetoresistance (MR) indicate the interlayer transport is coherent. The Fermi surface (FS) of YbMnSb$_2$ possesses quasi-two dimensional (2D) characteristic as determined by the angular dependence of SdH oscillation frequency. These findings suggest that YbMnSb$_2$ is a new candidate of topological Dirac semimetal.