Optical emission spectroscopy study of competing phases of electrons in the second Landau level

TL;DR

This study uses optical emission spectroscopy and spin wave measurements to investigate the complex quantum phases of electrons in the second Landau level, revealing rapid phase competition and collective behaviors.

Contribution

It introduces a combined optical and spin measurement approach to explore electron phases in the second Landau level, highlighting phase competition and collective phenomena.

Findings

Observation of a multiplet of optical emission peaks with filling factor dependence

Detection of spin wave breaking of rotational invariance

Rapid interplay between emission peaks indicating phase competition

Abstract

Quantum phases of electrons in the filling factor range $2 \leq\nu\leq 3$ are probed by the weak optical emission from the partially populated second Landau level and spin wave measurements. Observations of optical emission include a multiplet of sharp peaks that exhibit a strong filling factor dependence. Spin wave measurements by resonant inelastic light scattering probe breaking of spin rotational invariance and are used to link this optical emission with collective phases of electrons. A remarkably rapid interplay between emission peak intensities manifests phase competition in the second Landau level.