Modern theory of magnetic breakdown

Abstract

The modern semiclassical theory of a Bloch electron in a magnetic field encompasses the orbital magnetization and geometric phase. Beyond this semiclassical theory lies the quantum description of field-induced tunneling between semiclassical orbits, known as magnetic breakdown. Here, we synthesize the modern semiclassical notions with quantum tunneling -- into a single Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization rule that is predictive of magnetic energy levels. This rule is applicable to a host of topological solids with \emph{unremovable} geometric phase, that also \emph{unavoidably} undergo breakdown. A notion of topological invariants is formulated that nonperturbatively encode tunneling, and is measurable in the de-Haas-van-Alphen effect. Case studies are discussed for topological metals near a metal-insulator transition and over-tilted Weyl fermions.