Relaxation and edge reconstruction in integer quantum Hall systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how edge reconstruction in integer quantum Hall systems affects hot electron relaxation, revealing that different reconstruction scenarios significantly change relaxation rates due to altered electron dispersions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the impact of edge reconstruction on electron relaxation processes in quantum Hall edges, highlighting the role of three-body collisions.

Findings

Relaxation rates vary notably with different edge reconstruction scenarios.

Edge reconstruction modifies electron dispersion, influencing relaxation dynamics.

Three-body collisions are key to understanding relaxation in reconstructed edges.

Abstract

The interplay between the confinement potential and electron-electron interactions causes reconstructions of Quantum Hall edges. We study the consequences of this edge reconstruction for the relaxation of hot electrons injected into integer quantum Hall edge states. In translationally invariant edges, the relaxation of hot electrons is governed by three-body collisions which are sensitive to the electron dispersion and thus to reconstruction effects. We show that the relaxation rates are significantly altered in different reconstruction scenarios.