Electronic anisotropy in single-crystalLa2CuO4

Abstract

We have measured resistivity ρ components both parallel and perpendicular to the Cu-O planes in single-crystalline ${\mathrm{La}}_2$ ${\mathrm{CuO}}_4$. Substantial anisotropy, reaching values as large as ${10}^3$, is observed in the resistivity. The temperature dependence of ρ, together with Hall effect and thermoelectric power measurements, suggests hopping conduction between localized states at low temperatures, with diffusive transport at higher temperatures. These results are in contradistinction to previous reports.