The low-temperature resistivity and magnetoresistance of icosahedral quasicrystalline Al–Cu–Cr

The temperature and magnetic field dependence of the resistivity of quasicrystalline $Al_{65}Cu_{20}Cr_{15}$ alloy in the temperature range 1.7 K to 115 K and for fields up to 6.5 T were measured. While the resistivity $(\rho(T)$ has a maximum at $T\simeq45K$, it decreases with increasing T for T > 45 K, as for other icosahedral quasicrystals. However, for T < 45 K, $\rho$ decreases with decreasing T . The magnetoresistance (MR) is positive over the whole temperature range. We have tried to explain our observation using existing theories. The low-temperature resistivity $\rho(T)$ (T < 45 K), the resistivity maxima at $T\simeq 45 K$, and the positive MR can be explained by invoking antilocalization effects due to strong spin–orbit interactions. We have also tried to explore other approaches which give rise to positive MR