Low-temperature transport properties of quasi-crystalline Al86Mn14 thin films

The transverse magnetoresistance of a quasi-crystalline polygrain Al86Mn14 thin film has been measured as a function of temperature in a magnetic fiel d up to 6 T. The crystallographic investigations show that the films are in the decagonal quasi-crystalline phase. The field acid temperature dependen ce of the magnetoresistance is interpreted in terms of weak localization. F rom the comparison of the experimental results with theoretical calculation s the phase-breaking rate tau (-1)(phi) has been estimated and ascribed to electron-electron scattering. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.