Tuning the electronic and the crystalline structure of LaBi by pressure: From extreme magnetoresistance to superconductivity

• Published in: Physical review. B 2017-01, Vol.95 (1), p.014507, Article 014507
• Main Authors: Tafti, F. F., Torikachvili, M. S., Stillwell, R. L., Baer, B., Stavrou, E., Weir, S. T., Vohra, Y. K., Yang, H.-Y., McDonnell, E. F., Kushwaha, S. K., Gibson, Q. D., Cava, R. J., Jeffries, J. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Face centered cubic lattice; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; Metalloids; Pressure effects; Superconductivity; Tetragonal lattice
• ISSN: 2469-9950; 2469-9969
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.95.014507

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. 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-centered 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.