EDGE EXCITATIONS OF A 2-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON-SOLID IN A MAGNETIC-FIELD

The effect of the solidification transition on the edge phenomena of a two-dimensional (2D) electron system in a magnetic field is studied i n the classical and quantum melting regimes. It is shown that in the p ure solid system (T --> 0), instead of the conventional edge magnetopl asmons (EMP) which are observed in the liquid state, new magneto-Rayle igh waves (MRW) can propagate along the solid boundary and these have much lower frequencies: (omega)MRW much less than (omega)EMP If at a f inite temperature T < T-c the solidification of the edge is not comple ted due to the smooth density profile, the EMP and the new boundary di splacement waves can propagate in a thin electron liquid strip surroun ding the 2D solid. The properties of these waves are affected by the s olid boundary which may provide an alternative approach for probing th e Wigner transition.