SEMICONDUCTOR-METAL TRANSITION IN FESI IN ULTRAHIGH MAGNETIC-FIELDS UP TO 450-T

The magnetic susceptibility and conductivity of single-crystal iron mo nosilicide are investigated in ultrahigh magnetic fields up to 450 T a t a temperature of 77 K. It is found that the conductivity of iron mon osilicide increases continuously by two orders of magnitude as the mag netic field increases. The results obtained can be interpreted as a se miconductor-metal transition induced by the magnetic field. The depend ence of the conductivity on the magnetic field is described well on th e basis of the spin-fluctuation theory. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-3640(98)01516-3].