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Melting of a 2D Quantum Electron Solid in High Magnetic Field

Yong P. Chen·G. Sambandamurthy·Z. H. Wang·R. M. Lewis·L. W. Engel·D. C. Tsui·P. D. Ye·L. N. Pfeiffer·K. W. West
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Abstract

The melting temperature ($T_m$) of a solid is generally determined by the pressure applied to it, or indirectly by its density ($n$) through the equation of state. This remains true even for helium solids\cite{wilk:67}, where quantum effects often lead to unusual properties\cite{ekim:04}. In this letter we present experimental evidence to show that for a two dimensional (2D) solid formed by electrons in a semiconductor sample under a strong perpendicular magnetic field\cite{shay:97} ($B$), the $T_m$ is not controlled by $n$, but effectively by the \textit{quantum correlation} between the electrons through the Landau level filling factor $ν$=$nh/eB$. Such melting behavior, different from that of all other known solids (including a classical 2D electron solid at zero magnetic field\cite{grim:79}), attests to the quantum nature of the magnetic field induced electron solid. Moreover, we found the $T_m$ to increase with the strength of the sample-dependent disorder that pins the electron solid.

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Yong P. Chen, G. Sambandamurthy, Z. H. Wang, R. M. Lewis, L. W. Engel, D. C. Tsui, P. D. Ye, L. N. Pfeiffer, K. W. West. 2006-07-12. Melting of a 2D Quantum Electron Solid in High Magnetic Field. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys322

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