NEGATIVE MAGNETORESISTANCE IN PbTe(Mn,Cr)

Abstract

We have observed the negative magnetoresistance effect in the narrow-gap PbTe(Mn,Cr) semiconductor, in which the Fermi level is pinned within the gap nearby the conduction band edge. Previously the giant negative magentoresistance effect has been reported in PbTe(Mn,Yb), in which the Fermi level is pinned in the gap nearby the valence band edge. It is known that in the case of Yb doping the Fermi level pinning results from the 2+ - 3+ valence instability of an impurity. The same sort of the valence instability provides the Fermi level pinning in PbTe(Mn,Cr), but the conductivity is of the n-type, not of the p-type as in PbTe(Mn,Yb). Introduction of magnetic field leads to substantial drop of the PbTe(Mn,Cr) resistivity of about 30% at T = 4.2 K. This is however much lower than in PbTe(Mn,Yb), where the effect amplitude reached 3 orders of magnitude. The effect disappears at T = 15 K. Possible mechanisms of the effect are discussed.