Quantum linear magnetoresistance and magnetic-field-induced metal–insulator transition in the Weyl semimetal candidate HgSe

In ultrapure single HgSe crystal, a large linear magnetoresistance with a record magnitude of 15 000% in mercury chalcogenides was discovered in a quantum limit at the magnetic field of 12 T in the temperature range of 20–40 K. The effect was described in terms of Abrikosov's theory of quantum linear magnetoresistance, thus providing its first experimental confirmation. In the temperature range of 0.4–4.2 K, a magnetic field-induced metal–insulator transition appeared in the ultrapure HgSe. Estimates show that the critical magnetic field of this transition of 6.8 T satisfies the criterion for stabilization of a condensed Wigner phase in the quantum limit.