We analyze the weak-localization correction to the conductivity of a spinless two-leg ladder model in the limit of strong dephasing ${\tau }_{\phi }\ll {\tau }_{\mathrm{tr}}$, paying particular attention to the presence of a magnetic field, which leads to an unconventional magnetoresistance behavior. We find that the magnetic field leads to three different effects: (i) negative magnetoresistance due to the regular weak-localization correction, (ii) effective decoupling of the two chains, leading to positive magnetoresistance, and (iii) oscillations in the magnetoresistance originating from the nature of the low-energy collective excitations. All three effects can be observed depending on the parameter range, but it turns out that large magnetic fields always decouple the chains and thus lead to the curious effect of magnetic-field-enhanced localization.

• Received 31 July 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.86.155141