EFFECT OF PROBE GEOMETRY ON THE HALL RESPONSE IN AN INHOMOGENEOUS MAGNETIC-FIELD - A NUMERICAL STUDY

The effect of probe geometry on the classical Hall response to a weak perpendicular inhomogeneous magnetic field is studied numerically. An electric potential equation based on a classical model of the two-dime nsional Hall effect is solved numerically for a generalized flux distr ibution to find the Hall response function. We find that the magnitude and shape of this response function is strongly affected by probe geo metry. Asymmetric cross-shaped Hall probes, with one narrow voltage le ad, have a strongly peaked response more localized than in symmetric p robe arrangements. This suggests novel lithographic patterns that may improve the spatial resolution of Hall magnetometry and scanning Hall probe microscopy. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979( 98)08511-9]