MAGNETORESISTANCE IN COPPER

The motion of the guiding center of magnetic circulation generates a charge transport. By applying kinetic theory to the guiding center motion, an expression for the magnetoconductivity σ is obtained: σ = e2ncτ/M*, where M* is the magnetotransport mass distinct from the cyclotron mass, nc the density of the conduction electrons, and τ the relaxation time. The density nc depends on the magnetic field direction relative to copper's fcc lattice, when Cu's Fermi surface is nonspherical with “necks”. The anisotropic magnetoresistance is analyzed based on a one-parameter model, and compared with experiments. A good fit is obtained.