Pressure effects on the low temperature state of the α-(BEDT-TTF)2MHg(SCN)4 organic conductor family

Systematic magnetotransport measurements as a function of hydrostatic pressure have been made on four members of the α-(BEDT-TTF)2MHg(SCN)4 organic conductor family (M = K, Tl, Rb, NH4). Applied pressure above about 6 Kbar removes the density wave state for M = K, Tl, and Rb. For M = NH4 the superconducting state is removed with pressure as dTcdP = − 0.25 K/Kbar. In all cases the Shubnikov de Haas oscillation frequency increases with pressure, including the β orbit (which involves the entire Brillouin zone), and new orbits involving very small fractions of the Fermi surface are formed.