Quantum transport of two-dimensional Dirac fermions in SrMnBi2

Abstract

We report two-dimensional quantum transport in SrMnBi$_2$ single crystals. The linear energy dispersion leads to the unusual nonsaturated linear magnetoresistance since all Dirac fermions occupy the lowest Landau level in the quantum limit. The transverse magnetoresistance exhibits a crossover at a critical field $B^*$ from semiclassical weak-field $B^2$ dependence to the high-field linear-field dependence. With increase in the temperature, the critical field $B^*$ increases and the temperature dependence of $B^*$ satisfies quadratic behavior which is attributed to the Landau level splitting of the linear energy dispersion. The effective magnetoresistant mobility $\mu_{MR}\sim 3400$ cm$^2$/Vs is derived. Angular dependent magnetoresistance and quantum oscillations suggest dominant two-dimensional (2D) Fermi surfaces. Our results illustrate the dominant 2D Dirac fermion states in SrMnBi$_2$ and imply that bulk crystals with Bi square nets can be used to study low dimensional electronic transport commonly found in 2D materials like graphene.