Intrinsic orbital fourfold anisotropic magnetoresistance in Dirac materials

Fourfold anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) have been widely observed in quantum materials, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we find, in a variety of three-dimensional Dirac materials that can be unifiedly described by the massive Dirac equation, the intrinsic orbital magnetic moment of electrons vary synchronously with the magnetic field and give rise to a π periodic correction to its velocity, further leading to unusual fourfold AMR, dubbed intrinsic orbital fourfold AMR. Our theory not only explains the observation of fourfold AMR in bismuth but also uncovers the nature of the dominant fourfold AMR in thin films of antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4, which arises from the near cancellation of the twofold AMR from the surface states and bulk states due to distinct spin-momentum lockings. Our work provides a new mechanism for creation and manipulation of intrinsic fourfold AMR in both conventional conductors and various topological insulators.