Unusual Magnetotransport from two dimensional Dirac Fermions in Pd$_{3}$Bi$_{2}$Se$_{2}$

TL;DR

This study reports the first observation of 2D topological surface states and unusual magnetotransport phenomena in Pd$_{3}$Bi$_{2}$Se$_{2}$ thin films, indicating the presence of Dirac fermions and topologically non-trivial behavior.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of 2D Dirac fermions and topological surface states in Pd$_{3}$Bi$_{2}$Se$_{2}$, a material previously proposed to be topologically non-trivial.

Findings

Observation of non-saturated linear magnetoresistance from Dirac fermions.

Identification of a critical field B* proportional to T^2, indicating Landau level splitting.

Detection of 2D weak anti-localization signatures in magnetoconductivity.

Abstract

Pd$_{3}$Bi$_{2}$Se$_{2}$ has been proposed to be topologically non-trivial in nature. However, evidence of its non-trivial behavior is still unexplored. We report the growth and magneto-transport study of Pd$_{3}$Bi$_{2}$Se$_{2}$ thin films, revealing for the first time the contribution of two-dimensional (2D) topological surface states. We observe exceptional non-saturated linear magnetoresistance which results from Dirac fermions inhabiting the lowest Landau level in the quantum limit. The transverse magnetoresistance changes from a semi-classical weak-field $B^{2}$ dependence to a high-field $B$ dependence at a critical field $B^{\star}$. It is found that $B^{\star} \propto T^2$, which is expected from the Landau level splitting of a linear energy dispersion. In addition, the magnetoconductivity shows signatures of 2D weak anti-localization (WAL). These novel magnetotransport signatures evince the presence of 2D Dirac fermions in Pd$_{3}$Bi$_{2}$Se$_{2}$ thin films.