Quantum oscillations of dissipative resistance in crossed electric and magnetic fields

TL;DR

This paper reports on the observation of quantum oscillations in the dissipative resistance of 2D electrons in GaAs quantum wells, induced by electric current and magnetic fields, with a model explaining the oscillations through spatial variations of electron filling factors.

Contribution

It introduces a model linking current-induced spatial variations of electron filling factors to observed resistance oscillations in 2D electron systems.

Findings

Resistance oscillations are independent of magnetic field and temperature.

Oscillations are periodic in inverse magnetic fields at fixed current.

The proposed model explains oscillations via spatial variations of electron filling factor.

Abstract

Oscillations of dissipative resistance of two-dimensional electrons in GaAs quantum wells are observed in response to an electric current I and a strong magnetic field applied perpendicular to the two-dimensional systems. Period of the current-induced oscillations does not depend on the magnetic field and temperature. At a fixed current the oscillations are periodic in inverse magnetic fields with a period that does not depend on dc bias. The proposed model considers spatial variations of electron filling factor, which are induced by the electric current, as the origin of the resistance oscillations.