Shubnikov de Haas effect in the metallic state of Na$_{0.3}$CoO$_2$

Abstract

Shubnikov de Haas oscillations for two well defined frequencies, corresponding respectively to areas of 0.8 and 1.36% of the first Brillouin zone (FBZ), were observed in single crystals of Na$_{0.3}$CoO$_2$. The existence of Na superstructures in Na$_{0.3}$CoO$_2$, coupled with this observation, suggests the possibility that the periods are due to the reconstruction of the large Fermi surface around the $\Gamma$ point. An alternative interpretation in terms of the long sought-after $\epsilon_g^\prime$ pockets is also considered but found to be incompatible with existing specific heat data.