Galvanomagnetic Investigation of the Fermi Surface of Magnesium

Abstract

The galvanomagnetic properties of several single-crystal specimens of magnesium have been investigated. The results of this investigation are presented and a Fermi surface topology consistent with the data is discussed. Many of the detailed features of the galvanomagnetic properties are found to result from the effects of magnetic breakdown. The magnetic breakdown associated with the "giant orbit" which Priestley observed in his pulsed-field de Haas-van Alphen study of magnesium is found to be complete for magnetic-field strengths of 5400 G. An open orbit whose net direction is parallel to the hexagonal axis is observed for magnetic-field strengths as large as 70 kG. This orbit probably results from magnetic breakdown across three different energy gaps.