English

Theory of Current-Induced Breakdown of the Quantum Hall Effect

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2009-10-31 v2

Abstract

By studying the quantum Hall effect of stationary states with high values of injected current using a von Neumann lattice representation, we found that broadening of extended state bands due to a Hall electric field occurs and causes the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect. The Hall conductance agrees with a topological invariant that is quantized exactly below a critical field and is not quantized above a critical field. The critical field is proportional to B3/2B^{3/2} and is enhanced substantially if the extended states occupy a small fraction of the system.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9803376,
  title  = {Theory of Current-Induced Breakdown of the Quantum Hall Effect},
  author = {Kenzo Ishikawa and Nobuki Maeda and Tetsuyuki Ochiai and Hisao Suzuki},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9803376},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

5 pages, RevTeX, final version to appear in PRB