Abstract
Several strongly correlated metals display B-linear magnetoresistance (LMR) with a universal slope, in sharp contrast to the [Formula: see text] scaling predicted by Fermi liquid theory. We provide a unifying explanation of the origin of LMR by focusing on a common feature in their phase diagrams-proximity to symmetry-breaking orders. Specifically, we demonstrate via two microscopic models that LMR with a universal slope arises ubiquitously near ordered phases, provided the order parameter either i) has a finite wave-vector, or ii) has nodes on the Fermi surface. We elucidate the distinct physical mechanisms at play in these two scenarios and derive upper and lower bounds on the field range for which LMR is observed. Finally, we discuss possible extensions of our picture to strange metal physics at higher temperatures and argue that our theory provides an understanding of recent experimental results on thin film cuprates and moiré materials.