DETECTION OF FRACTIONAL CHARGE AND QUENCHING OF THE QUANTUM HALL-EFFECT

Citation
Y. Gefen et Dj. Thouless, DETECTION OF FRACTIONAL CHARGE AND QUENCHING OF THE QUANTUM HALL-EFFECT, Physical review. B, Condensed matter, 47(16), 1993, pp. 10423-10436
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Physics, Condensed Matter
ISSN journal
01631829
Volume
47
Issue
16
Year of publication
1993
Pages
10423 - 10436
Database
ISI
SICI code
0163-1829(1993)47:16<10423:DOFCAQ>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
A two-dimensional electron gas in the fractional-quantum-Hall-effect ( FQHE) regime is characterized by fractionally charged excitations e = ve (v < 1). Given the appropriate geometry, can one observe multiple Aharonov-Bohm (MAB) oscillations of basic periodicity h/e? We show th at such oscillations may indeed be observed over a time scale that can be made macroscopically long. This is the result of a dynamical symme try breaking of the ground state. When fractional charges become abund ant, only standard AB oscillations (of period h/e) will be observed, a nd the measured FQHE conductivity will be quenched either to zero or t o a nontrivial integer. These effects may be manifested in dc measurem ents as well, the physics being related to that discussed in the conte xt of the Coulomb blockade.