Comparison of theory and experiment for two regimes of quantum interference oscillations in the transverse magnetoresistance of pure magnesium

Abstract

The “on-axis” and “off-axis” regimes of quantum transport discussed theoretically in the preceding paper in this journal have been observed experimentally. The observation of the “on-axis” regime required magnetic field alignment to within an accuracy of ±0.002° of the basal plane. The data for the “off-axis” regime indicate that the electron quantum state lifetime for this crystal is about 5×10 ⁻¹⁰ sec at 4.2 K. A comparison between the predictions of first principles theory and the experimental results in these two regimes shows that the theory not only predicts the qualitative behavior correctly but also provides a quantitatively accurate description for the transverse magnetoresistance.