Singular angular magnetoresistance in a magnetic nodal semimetal

Abstract

Mind the angle Interplay between real- and momentum-space properties of materials can lead to exotic phenomena. Suzuki et al. studied electrical transport in the presence of a magnetic field in cerium-aluminum-germanium, a Weyl semimetal that also harbors magnetism (see the Perspective by Hassinger and Meng). As they varied the orientation of the applied field, they noticed spikes of resistivity sharply centered around the high symmetry axes of the material. The spikes were a consequence of the small overlap of Fermi surfaces—which “live” in momentum space—on either side of magnetic domain walls, which occur in real space. This extreme angular sensitivity may be useful in practical applications. Science , this issue p. 377 ; see also p. 324