Theory of the Integer and Fractional Quantum Hall Effects

TL;DR

This paper presents a new theory of the fractional quantum Hall effect that explains observed phenomena without relying on quasi-particles, emphasizing Coulomb interactions and energy spectrum discontinuities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to FQHE by analyzing Coulomb interactions and energy spectrum valleys, explaining Hall plateaus and spin polarization without quasi-particles.

Findings

Explains Hall plateaus at specific fractional filling factors.

Describes valley structures in energy spectrum at certain fillings.

Matches theoretical spin polarization curves with experimental data.

Abstract

The present theory has investigated the FQHE without any quasi-particle. The electric field due to the Hall voltage is taken into consideration. We find the ground state where the electron configuration is uniquely determined so as to have the minimum classical Coulomb energy. Residual Coulomb interaction HI yields quantum transitions which satisfy the momentum conservation along the current direction. The number of Coulomb transitions from nearest electron pairs is dependent sensitively upon the fractional number of the filling factor. For example, the number u(2/3) of allowed transitions at nu=2/3 abruptly decreases when the filling factor nu deviates slightly from 2/3. The limiting value of the number is equal to half of u(2/3). The discontinuous behavior produces the valley structure in the energy spectrum. This mechanism produces the Hall plateaus at the specific filling factors nu=1/(2j+1), 2j /(2j+1), j/(2j+1), j/(2j-1) etc. and also at the non-standard filling factors nu=7/11, 4/11, 4/13, 5/13, 5/17, 6/17 etc. We have studied the pair energies of more distant electron pairs in Chapter 5. Thereby the small valley structure yields at nu=5/2, 7/2 and so on. The shapes of polarization curves depend mainly upon the numerator of the fractional filling factor in nu<1 because the spin polarization belongs to electrons only. There are many spin-arrangements with the same eigen-energy of HD. The Coulomb interaction HI yields quantum transitions among these degenerate ground states. The partial Hamiltonian has been diagonalized exactly. The eigen-states give the spin polarization versus magnetic field strength. The theoretical curves of the spin polarization are in good agreement with the experimental data as studied in Chapter 9. Thus the present theory has well explained the various phenomena of the FQHE.