Quasi-linear magnetoresistance and the violation of Kohler's rule in the quasi-one-dimensional Ta$_4$Pd$_3$Te$_{16}$ superconductor

Abstract

We report on the quasi-linear in field intrachain magnetoresistance in the normal state of a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor Ta$_4$Pd$_3$Te$_{16}$ ($T_c$$\sim$4.6 K). Both the longitudinal and transverse in-chain magnetoresistance shows a power-law dependence, $\Delta \rho$$\propto$B$^\alpha$, with the exponent $\alpha$ close to 1 over a wide temperature and field range. The magnetoresistance shows no sign of saturation up to 50 tesla studied. The linear magnetoresistance observed in Ta$_4$Pd$_3$Te$_{16}$ is found to be overall inconsistent with the interpretations based on the Dirac fermions in the quantum limit, charge conductivity fluctuations as well as quantum electron-electron interference. Moreover, it is observed that the Kohler's rule, regardless of the field orientations, is violated in its normal state. This result suggests the loss of charge carriers in the normal state of this chain-containing compound, due presumably to the charge-density-wave fluctuations.