Large low-temperature magnetoresistance in SrFe2As2 single crystals

Abstract

We present the first report on a large low-temperature magnetoresistance (MR) of more than 1600% in a SrFe2As2 single crystal and 1300% in a low-energy Ca ion-implanted SrFe2As2 single crystal that occurs before the emergence of crystallographic strain-induced bulk superconductivity arising from a sample aging effect. In accordance to band structure calculations from literature, which consitently show more than 2 bands are involved in the transport, we have modeled this large MR at high fields using a 3-carrier scenario rather than solely on quantum linear MR model generally used to explain the MR in iron-pnictides. At and below 20 K the large MR may be due to 3-carrier transport in an inhomogeneous state where there are superconducting and metallic regions.