Quantum Hall Effect

Modern Physics Spring 2002 Arnulf Materny

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

Some Keywords

Resistance Electric Charge "Hall Effect" "Integer Quantum Hall Effect" "Fractional Quantum Hall Effect"

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

Introduction

Why are faces so different, while e.g. oxygen atoms are about the same in air (O2) and water (H2O)?
April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

Introduction
Consider a digital photo! On the large scale you see smooth contrast However, on a microscopic scale ...

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

Introduction
Microscopic picture: quantization E.g. electrical charge is quantized

Q = n e = n 1.602 10 n = 1, 2, 3, ...

19

However ... Under certain conditions electrons behave like a fluid and fractional charges can be observed
April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

What is Resistance?
Analogy:
Water flows down a stream Resistance = scattering by stones

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

What is Resistance?
Electrical conduction: Scattering of single electrons in a conductor Momentum of electron is changed Overall flow is reduced
April 5, 2002

Ohm`s Law

U R= I

International University Bremen

Is Zero Resistance Possible?

Yes, it is! If the moving "particle" does not fit to the "obstacle" This is the case if electrons perform "linked motions" the obstacles are just ignored!

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

Zero Resistance
Electrons form a "quantum fluid" Condensation only under extreme conditions (very low temperatures) Reason: weak interaction among electrons becomes significant

V = 0 but I 0
April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

What Happens If We Add a Magnetic Field?

Consider an electron moving in an magnetic field A force acts on the electron: "Lorentz Force"

r r r F = qv B
r B

r F

r v
International University Bremen
10

April 5, 2002

The Hall Effect

Edwin Hall in 1879 (discovery made as graduate student of Johns Hopkins Univ.)

I B VH = n et
(n = density of mobile charges)
April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

11

Experimental Verification

For a given current I the Hall Voltage VH is found to be proportional to the magnetic field B For the same I, t, and B, the Hall Voltage is still different for different materials!
April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

12

The "Quantum Hall Effect"

Experiments investigating the Hall Effect under extreme conditions

Klaus von Klitzing Nobel Prize 1985

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

13

The "Quantum Hall Effect"

Conditions: t few nm T about 1 K B several T
Hall Resistance: Hall Resistance: RH = VH //II RH = VH and first derivative and first derivative

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

14

The "Quantum Hall Effect"

Plateaus are found always for the same values of RH!
Independent of materials Independent of materials

RH /

B / T
April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

15

Explanation of the QHE

What was so special in von Klitzing`s experimental arrangement? Extreme conditions (low T, high B, small t) Macroscopic microscopic picture Quantum effects become important! Single atoms change properties in quantum steps (defined by Planck's constant h)
April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

16

Energies in a Thin Crystal Layer in a Perpendicular Magnetic Field

Ideal crystal Ideal crystal + impurities + impurities + increase of B + increase of B

Electrons only below the Fermi energy Fermi energy drops with rising B Drop from one Landau level to the next results in new plateau seen in the QHE experiments
April 5, 2002

Landau level Fermi energy Landau level

Landau level
17

International University Bremen

energy

Fermi energy

Another picture explaining the QHE Motion only along discrete circles possible which would not be the case if
Low B no circles High T energies higher then EFermi allowed Large t circles not in the plane, washing out of discrete energy steps

Quantized Energies Result in QHE

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

18

The "Integer QHE"

Connection with constants of nature:
V V I energy / time energy time h = R= = 2 = 2 2 2 2 I I charge / time charge e

h1 RH = 2 e i

with i = 1,2,3, K

Experimental accuracy better than 1 in 107 !

April 5, 2002

RH / he-2

"Integer QHE":

B-1 / T-1
19

International University Bremen

There is More ...

Daniel C. Tsui Princeton University

Horst L. Strmer Columbia University and Bell Labs

Robert B. Laughlin Stanford University

Nobel Prize 1998 for the discovery of the "Fractional Quantum Hall Effect"
April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

20

The "Fractional QHE"

Even more extreme conditions: T<1K B > 10 T Fractional QHE:
h1 h RH = 2 = e i (ie ) e 1 2 1 with i = , , , K 3 5 5
April 5, 2002

RH / he-2

B / T
International University Bremen
21

Explanation A Difficult Task

Electrons behave like particles carrying n lines of flux Theory: n must be a odd number Motion of flux induces a transverse voltage Contribution by one "particle" (boson): n RH appears as "fractional multiple" of h / e2

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

22

"Composite Fermions Model"

P.A.M. Dirac: P.A.M. Dirac: "The main object of physical systems is not the provision of pictures, "The main object of physical systems is not the provision of pictures, but the formulation of laws governing phenomena, and the discovery of but the formulation of laws governing phenomena, and the discovery of these laws to the discovery of new phenomena. If a picture exists, so these laws to the discovery of new phenomena. If a picture exists, so much the better, but whether a picture exists or not is a matter of only much the better, but whether a picture exists or not is a matter of only secondary importance." secondary importance."

April 5, 2002

International University Bremen

23