Observation of pseudo-two-dimensional electron transport in the rock salt-type topological semimetal LaBi

Topological insulators are characterized by an inverted band structure in the bulk and metallic surface states on the surface. In LaBi, a semimetal with a band inversion equivalent to a topological insulator, we observe surface-state-like behavior in the magnetoresistance. The electrons responsible for this pseudo-two-dimensional transport, however, originate from the bulk states rather topological surface states, which is witnessed by the angle-dependent quantum oscillations of the magnetoresistance and ab initio calculations. As a consequence, the magnetoresistance exhibits strong anisotropy with large amplitude (∼105%).