Comment on "Magnetic quantum oscillations of the conductivity in layered conductors"

TL;DR

This paper critiques a recent theory explaining Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in a layered organic conductor, showing that the original equations were solved incorrectly and that, under proper analysis, the predicted longitudinal conductivity vanishes at high magnetic fields.

Contribution

The paper identifies and corrects errors in Gvozdikov's theory, demonstrating that the original model does not produce the predicted conductivity oscillations.

Findings

Incorrect solution of self-consistent equations in the original theory.

Proper analysis shows no longitudinal conductivity at high magnetic fields.

Challenges the validity of the previous explanation for observed oscillations.

Abstract

We discuss the recent theory of Gvozdikov [Phys. Rev. B 70, 085113 (2004)] which aims at explaining the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations of the longitudinal resistivity \rho_zz observed in the quasi-two-dimensional organic compound \beta''-(BEDT-TTF)_2SF_5CH_2CF_2SO_3. We point out that the self-consistent equations of the theory yielding the longitudinal resistivity and the magnetic field dependence of the chemical potential have been incorrectly solved. We show that the consideration of the self-consistent Born approximation (which determines the relaxation rate in Gvozdikov's paper) leads in fact to the complete absence of the longitudinal conductivity \sigma_{zz} at leading order in high magnetic fields.