Multiband magnetotransport in the normal state of MgB2 -: art. no. 104519

We measure the normal state resistivity and the magnetoresistivity of a series of MgB2 bulk samples of different purities and doping. We apply a multiband model in order to describe temperature-dependent resistivity and low-temperature magnetoresistivity. We critically examine the possibility of extracting the low-temperature scattering rates in the different bands independently. Both these transport properties are sensitive to the relative contribution of the bands. Whereas resistivity is inevitably affected by systematic uncertainties, magnetoresistivity provides a reliable tool to discriminate between each band's contribution in certain experimental cases, also thanks to the reliability of first-principle calculations of theoretical parameters relevant to electronic bands in magnesium diboride.