Past exam of the quantum condensed matter course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / Section B / 5 / b / Solution

As $B$ changes, each quantized orbit area grows linearly with field while the Fermi surface cross-section stays approximately fixed. Landau energies repeatedly cross the Fermi energy, making the density of states there oscillate. If the relevant extremal orbit has area $S_F$, its crossings satisfyThus the oscillations are periodic in inverse field rather than field. In three dimensions integration over longitudinal momentum makes extremal cross-sections dominate.

One observable is the de Haas-van Alphen effect: the field-dependent occupation changes the electronic free energy, so its field derivative, the magnetization, oscillates. The corresponding oscillations of longitudinal electrical resistance are the Shubnikov-de Haas effect. Both probe Fermi-surface geometry.