Magnetic-Field-Induced Localization of Quasiparticles in Underdoped La_(2-x)Sr_xCuO₄ Single Crystals

Magnetic-field-induced ordering of electrons around vortices is a striking phenomenon recently found in high-$T_c$ cuprates. To identify its consequence in the quasiparticle dynamics, the magnetic-field ($H$) dependence of the low-temperature thermal conductivity $\kappa$ of La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ crystals is studied for a wide doping range. It is found that the behavior of $\kappa(H)$ in the sub-Kelvin region changes drastically across optimum doping, and the data for underdoped samples are indicative of unusual magnetic-field-induced localization of quasiparticles; this localization phenomenon is probably responsible for the unusual "insulating normal state" under high magnetic fields.