A contribution to the linear magnetoresistance problem

It is shown that semi-classical transport theory provides an extremely accurate prediction of the limiting high field transverse magnetoresistivities of the compensated metals Cd, Pb and W. These results invalidate those theoretical models based on scattering effects which have been proposed to explain the linear term in the magnetoresistivities of K, Al and In. We argue that the only remaining viable models are those based on the effects of sample imperfections and inhomogeneities.