Magnetic-field-induced Luttinger insulator state in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

TL;DR

This paper proposes a model explaining the anomalous temperature-dependent resistivity in quasi-one-dimensional conductors under magnetic fields, highlighting a magnetic-field-induced transition between insulating and metallic behaviors based on effective dimensionality.

Contribution

It introduces a semiphenomenological model linking magnetic field effects to changes in effective dimensionality and resistivity behavior in Q1D conductors.

Findings

Magnetic field reduces effective dimensionality, inducing insulator-to-metal transitions.

Resistivity shows different temperature dependencies depending on magnetic field orientation.

Model explains experimental observations of resistivity in (TMTSF)2X compounds.

Abstract

We present a heuristic, semiphenomenological model of the anomalous temperature (T) dependence of resistivity $\rho_{xx}$ recently observed experimentally in the quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) organic conductors of the (TMTSF)2X family in moderately strong magnetic fields. We suggest that a Q1D conductor behaves like an insulator ($d\rho_{xx}/dT<0$), when its effective dimensionality is one, and like a metal ($d\rho_{xx}/dT>0$), when its effective dimensionality is greater than one. Applying a magnetic field reduces the effective dimensionality of the system and switches the temperature dependence of resistivity between the insulating and metallic laws depending on the magnitude of the magnetic field and its orientation along the ``magic'' and ``nonmagic'' angles.