Quadrature magnetoresistance scaling reflects linear field dependence rather than strange metallicity
Authors:
D. B. Zhou,
Y. Yang,
L. F. Feng,
M. F. Zhao,
Z. Y. Jia,
K. H. Gao
Abstract:
The quadrature scaling of magnetoresistance has been widely adopted as a hallmark of the strange metal state. However, whether this scaling signals quantum criticality or reflects conventional transport behavior remains controversial. Here, by systematically investigating the magnetotransport properties of NiTe2 nanosheets, we demonstrate that the quadrature scaling is not a unique signature of st…
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The quadrature scaling of magnetoresistance has been widely adopted as a hallmark of the strange metal state. However, whether this scaling signals quantum criticality or reflects conventional transport behavior remains controversial. Here, by systematically investigating the magnetotransport properties of NiTe2 nanosheets, we demonstrate that the quadrature scaling is not a unique signature of strange metallicity. We find that the scaling holds only when the crossover field , marking the transition from quadratic to linear magnetoresistance, is sufficiently small relative to the applied field range. Through controlled simulations, we show that the scaling emerges whenever linear magnetoresistance dominates, irrespective of its origin, and fails when the linear regime is inaccessible. This conclusion is supported by observations in SrTiO3 based heterostructures, where quadrature scaling appears despite the absence of strange metal behavior. Our results establish that the quadrature scaling merely reflects the presence of linear magneto resistance, urging caution in using this scaling as a diagnostic tool for exploring the strange metal state.
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Submitted 21 July, 2026;
originally announced July 2026.
Anisotropic linear magnetoresistance in nanoflakes of Dirac semimetal NiTe2
Authors:
Ding Bang Zhou,
Kuang Hong Gao,
Tie Lin,
Yang Yang,
Meng Fan Zhao,
Zhi Yan Jia,
Xiao Xia Hu,
Qian Jin Guo,
Zhi Qing Li
Abstract:
This work investigates the magneto-transport properties of exfoliated NiTe2 nano-flakes with varying thicknesses and disorder levels, unveiling two distinct physical mechanisms governing the observed anisotropic linear magnetoresistance (MR). For the perpendicular magnetic field configuration, the well-defined linear MR in high fields is unambiguously attributed to a classical origin. This conclus…
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This work investigates the magneto-transport properties of exfoliated NiTe2 nano-flakes with varying thicknesses and disorder levels, unveiling two distinct physical mechanisms governing the observed anisotropic linear magnetoresistance (MR). For the perpendicular magnetic field configuration, the well-defined linear MR in high fields is unambiguously attributed to a classical origin. This conclusion is supported by the proportionality between the MR slope and the carrier mobility, and between the crossover field and the inverse of mobility. In stark contrast, the linear MR under parallel magnetic fields exhibits a non-classical character. It shows a pronounced enhancement with decreasing flake thickness, which correlates with an increasing hole-to-electron concentration ratio. This distinctive thickness dependence suggests an origin in the nonlinear band effects near the Dirac point, likely driven by the shift of the Fermi level. Furthermore, the strengthening of MR anisotropic with enhanced inter-layer transport contradicts the prediction of the guiding-center diffusion model for three-dimensional systems. Our findings highlight the critical roles of band topology and structural dimensional in the anomalous magneto-transport of Dirac semi-metals.
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Submitted 6 December, 2025; v1 submitted 1 October, 2025;
originally announced October 2025.