EDGE STATE FORMATION IN MAGNETIC QUANTUM STRUCTURES

The formation of magnetic edge states is investigated for magnetic qua ntum structures with inhomogeneous magnetic fields such as a magnetic quantum dot (B = 0 for r < r(0) and B not equal 0 elsewhere) and a mag netic quantum ring (B = 0 for r(1) < r < r(2) and B not equal 0 elsewh ere). It is found that the eigenenergy spectra for these structures cr itically depend on the number of missing flux quanta and eigenstates w hich are composed of bulk Landau levels and magnetic edge states. The magnetic edge states correspond well with the classical particle traje ctories which circulate either clockwise or counterclockwise along the boundary between magnetic domains. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.