Commensurability oscillations in a quasi-two-dimensional electron gas subjected to strong in-plane magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of how strong in-plane magnetic fields affect commensurability oscillations in a quasi-2D electron gas with periodic potential, revealing orbit anisotropy and tilt effects.

Contribution

It extends a quasi-classical theory to describe the impact of in-plane magnetic fields on oscillations in a finite-width quantum well, highlighting orbit deformation and tilt.

Findings

In-plane magnetic fields induce anisotropic, tilted cyclotron orbits.

The theory links magneto-resistance oscillations to guiding-center drift.

Orbit deformation affects oscillation characteristics.

Abstract

We report on a theoretical study of the commensurability oscillations in a quasi-two-dimensional electron gas modulated by a unidirectional periodic potential and subjected to tilted magnetic fields with a strong in-plane component. As a result of coupling of the in-plane field component and the confining potential in the finite-width quantum well, the originally circular cyclotron orbits become anisotropic and tilted out of the sample plane. A quasi-classical approach to the theory, that relates the magneto-resistance oscillations to the guiding-center drift, is extended to this case.