Microwave-induced magnetoresistance of two-dimensional electrons interacting with acoustic phonons

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how microwave irradiation affects magnetoresistance in two-dimensional electron systems, highlighting the interplay of impurity and phonon scattering, and revealing complex oscillation phenomena influenced by electron heating.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive theoretical framework describing microwave-induced magnetoresistance oscillations involving electron-phonon interactions and their interference effects.

Findings

Electron-phonon scattering causes oscillations in magnetoresistance.

Microwave heating induces a unique phonon-related oscillation.

Interference between phonon and microwave effects creates complex resistance patterns.

Abstract

The influence of electron-phonon interaction on magnetotransport in two-dimensional electron systems under microwave irradiation is studied theoretically. Apart from the phonon-induced resistance oscillations which exist in the absence of microwaves, the magnetoresistance of irradiated samples contains oscillating contributions due to electron scattering on both impurities and acoustic phonons. The contributions due to electron-phonon scattering are described as a result of the interference of phonon-induced and microwave-induced resistance oscillations. In addition, microwave heating of electrons leads to a special kind of phonon-induced oscillations. The relative strength of different contributions and their dependence on parameters are discussed. The interplay of numerous oscillating contributions suggests a peculiar magnetoresistance picture in high-mobility layers at the temperatures when electron-phonon scattering becomes important.