Superperiods in interference of e/3 Laughlin quasiparticles encircling filling 2/5 fractional quantum Hall island

TL;DR

This study demonstrates superperiodic interference patterns in a fractional quantum Hall interferometer, revealing the anyonic nature of e/3 Laughlin quasiparticles through observed flux and charge periods.

Contribution

First experimental observation of superperiods in a large interferometer, confirming anyonic statistics of fractional quasiparticles in the quantum Hall regime.

Findings

Flux period of 5h/e indicating ten e/5 quasiparticles

Charge period of 2e consistent with quasiparticle creation

Results support anyonic statistical interactions among quasiparticles

Abstract

We report experiments in a large, 2.5 micron diameter Fabry-Perot quantum Hall interferometer with two tunneling constrictions. Interference fringes are observed as conductance oscillations as a function of applied magnetic field (the Aharonov-Bohm flux through the electron island) or a global backgate voltage (electronic charge in the island). Depletion is such that in the fractional quantum Hall regime, filling 1/3 current-carrying chiral edge channels pass through constrictions when the island filling is 2/5. The interferometer device is calibrated with fermionic electrons in the integer quantum Hall regime. In the fractional regime, we observe magnetic flux and charge periods 5h/e and 2e, respectively, corresponding to creation of ten e/5 Laughlin quasiparticles in the island. These results agree with our prior report of the superperiods in a much smaller interferometer device. The observed experimental periods are interpreted as imposed by anyonic statistical interaction of fractionally-charged quasiparticles.