THE EFFECT OF COHERENT MAGNETIC BREAKDOWN ON THE DE HAAS - VAN ALPHEN EFFECT IN MAGNESIUM

Abstract

We report here the results of a de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) investigation of the coupled orbit system in magnesium. The data were taken for magnetic fields extending to 52 kG and temperatures down to 0.29° K. The experimental data are interpreted in the light of coupled orbit system theories of Pippard and of Falicov and Stachowiak; these are each reviewed in some detail. The data are found to disagree qualitatively with the predictions of Falicov and Stachowiak. Since this theory has been assumed, for more than a decade, to be equivalent to Pippard's theory, a detailed comparison of these was made. Full spectrum Fourier analysis of Pippard's band structure density of states shows that the two models disagree qualitatively and, therefore, that they are not equivalent. These experimental results, which do not appear to disagree with Pippard's theory, are interpreted to mean that it is fnally possible to obtain crystals of sufficient purity and perfection to make it necessary to use a band structure description of the delocalized electrons on the couple network. Evidence is presented for the existence of a new type of dHvA frequency corresponding to the ΓKM plane cross-section of the Brillouin zone. A proposed explanation for this dHvA frequency involves the field dependent modulation of the zero frequency component of the Fourier transform of the coupled orbit system density of states. Also included are discussions of crystal preparation and handling, cryogenic apparatus, analogue detection apparatus, digital data acquisition and processing hardware based on a microcomputer, and a new software system ideally suited to small computer research environments.