Spin reconstruction in quantum wires subject to a perpendicular magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a perpendicular magnetic field influences spin and charge distributions in quantum wires, revealing a spin-polarized electron strip formation explained by exchange interactions, with implications for Quantum Hall edge states.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of spin reconstruction in quantum wires under perpendicular magnetic fields, linking it to Quantum Hall physics.

Findings

Spin-polarized electron strip forms with increasing magnetic field

Exchange interactions drive the spin reconstruction

Results relate to Quantum Hall edge state structures

Abstract

We study the effects of a perpendicular magnetic field on the spin and charge distribution across a quantum wire. Using momentum resolved tunneling between two parallel wires we measure the dispersion relation for different perpendicular magnetic fields. We find that as the magnetic field increases, a strip of spin polarized electrons separates in the cross section of the wire. We provide a quantitative description of the emerging structure within a Hartree-Fock approximation, showing that it results from exchange interaction between electrons in the wire. We discuss the relation of these results to the structure of Quantum Hall edge states.