The effect of pressure on extreme magnetoresistance and superconductivity in LaBi

ORAL

Abstract

Extreme magnetoresistance (XMR) in topological semimetals is a recent discovery which attracts attention due to its robust appearance in a growing number of materials. To search for a relation between XMR and superconductivity, we study the effect of pressure on LaBi taking advantage of its simple structure and simple composition. By increasing pressure, we observe the disappearance of XMR followed by the appearance of superconductivity at P $=$ 3.5 GPa. We find a region of coexistence between superconductivity and XMR in LaBi in contrast to other superconducting XMR materials. The suppression of XMR is correlated with increasing zero-field resistance instead of decreasing in-field resistance. At higher pressures, P $=$ 11 GPa, we find a structural transition from the face center cubic lattice to a primitive tetragonal lattice, in agreement with theoretical predictions. The relationship between extreme magnetoresistance, superconductivity, and structural transition in LaBi is discussed.

Authors

  • Fazel Tafti

    • Boston College
  • Milton Torikachvili

    • San Diego State University
  • Ryan Stillwell

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • Bruce Baer

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • Elissaios Stavrou

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
  • Sam Weir

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • Yogesh Vohra

    • University of Alabama
    • University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Hung-Yu Yang

    • Boston College
  • Evan McDonnell

    • Boston College
  • Satya Kushwaha

    • Princeton University
  • Quinn Gibson

    • Princeton University
    • Department of Chemistry, Princeton University
  • R. J. Cava

    • Princeton
    • Department of Chemistry Princeton University
    • Princeton University
    • Department of Chemistry, Princeton University
    • Princeton University, USA
    • Princeton Univ
  • Jason Jeffries

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory