Resistivity Exponents in 3D Dirac Semimetals From Electron-Electron Interaction

We study the resistivity of three-dimensional semimetals with linear dispersion in the presence of on-site electron-electron interaction. The well-known quadratic temperature dependence of the resistivity of conventional metals is turned into an unusual T-6 behavior. An analogous change affects the thermal transport, preserving the linearity in T of the ratio between thermal and electrical conductivities. These results hold from weak coupling up to the nonperturbative region of the Mott transition. Our findings yield a natural explanation for the hitherto not understood large exponents characterizing the temperature dependence of transport experiments on various topological semimetals.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigated the resistivity of three-dimensional semimetals with linear dispersion in the presence of on-site electron-electron interaction. The results showed an unusual T-6 behavior in the resistivity, as well as a linear ratio between thermal and electrical conductivities. These findings provide a natural explanation for the large exponents characterizing the temperature dependence of transport experiments on various topological semimetals, from weak coupling up to the nonperturbative region of the Mott transition.