Anomalous quantum oscillations from boson-mediated interband scattering

Abstract

Quantum oscillations (QO) in metals refer to the periodic variation of thermodynamic and transport properties as a function of inverse applied magnetic field. QO frequencies are normally associated with semi-classical trajectories of Fermi surface orbits but recent experiments challenge the canonical description. We develop a theory of composite frequency quantum oscillations (CFQO) in two-dimensional Fermi liquids with several Fermi surfaces and interband scattering mediated by a dynamical boson, e.g. phonons or spin fluctuations. Specifically, we show that CFQO arise from oscillations in the fermionic self-energy with anomalous frequency splitting and distinct strongly non-Lifshitz-Kosevich temperature dependencies. Our theory goes beyond the framework of semi-classical Fermi surface trajectories highlighting the role of many-body effects. We provide experimental predictions and discuss the effect of non-equilibrium boson occupation in driven systems.