The de Haas van Alphen effect in quasi-two-dimensional materials

We calculate the amplitude of magnetization oscillations for a quasi-two-dimensional electron system. In the two-dimensional case the behavior of this amplitude as a function of magnetic field and temperature differ completely from the conventional Lifshitz-Kosevich formula valid for three-dimensional metals. Previously only the ideal two-dimensional case has been considered, and the difference of the shape of the Fermi surface from cylindrical has not been taken into account. We obtain the general formula for the envelope of magnetization oscillations as a function of magnetic field, temperature, and the strength of the warping of the Fermi surface. This problem is important because of the great amount of interest in heterostructures and quasi-two-dimensional organic metals which has arisen in recent years. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-3640(99)01102-0].