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Nonlinear current-voltage characteristic in narrow channels and low-voltage breakdown of the quantum hall effect

✍ Scribed by O.G. Baler; P. Vasilopoulos; E.V. Mozdor


Publisher
Elsevier Science
Year
1994
Tongue
English
Weight
167 KB
Volume
16
Category
Article
ISSN
0749-6036

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✦ Synopsis


The current-voltage characteristic (CVC) and the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect (QHE) are considered in narrow quasi-two-dimensional channels subject to a strong perpendicular magnetic field (\mathbf{B}). The interaction of electrons with acoustical and piezoelectrical phonons leads to electron transitions at the edges of the channel and to the main dissipation if the channel width (W) is not too large. Nonheating negative differential conduction (\left(d j_{x} / d E_{x}<0\right.) ), when an electric field (E_{x}) is applied along the channel, is possible for drift velocities (v_{D}) smaller, much smaller, or larger than the speed of sound (s). The CVC (j_{x}=j_{x}\left(E_{x}\right)), is substantially nonlinear if (v_{D}) is not too small. The results agree with the observations [1] (\left(v_{D} \sim s / 20\right)) in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structurcs. The observed exponential increase in the dissipation before breakdown [2], by two orders of magnitude, is explained as well. The anisotropy of the electron-phonon interaction in MOS structures and its substantial influence on the CVC and (v_{D}) is also considered.