Chiral thermoelectrics with quantum Hall edge states

TL;DR

This paper explores how the chirality of quantum Hall edge states influences thermoelectric effects in a three-terminal conductor, revealing maximally asymmetric Onsager responses and potential for spin-polarized currents.

Contribution

It uncovers a chirality-based thermoelectric response mechanism and demonstrates maximally asymmetric Onsager matrices in quantum Hall systems.

Findings

Maximal asymmetry in Onsager matrix configurations.

Reversal of magnetic field exchanges thermoelectric effects.

Potential for generating spin-polarized currents.

Abstract

The thermoelectric properties of a three-terminal quantum Hall conductor are investigated. We identify a contribution to the thermoelectric response that relies on the chirality of the carrier motion rather than on spatial asymmetries. The Onsager matrix becomes maximally asymmetric with configurations where either the Seebeck or the Peltier coefficients are zero while the other one remains finite. Reversing the magnetic field direction exchanges these effects, which originate from the chiral nature of the quantum Hall edge states. The possibility to generate spin-polarized currents in quantum spin Hall samples is discussed.