Microscopic theory for radiation-induced Zero-Resistance States in 2D electron systems: Franck-Condon blockade

TL;DR

This paper introduces a microscopic model explaining radiation-induced zero resistance states in 2D electron systems through Franck-Condon physics, highlighting how high radiation intensity suppresses scattering via a blockade mechanism.

Contribution

It presents a novel application of Franck-Condon physics to magnetotransport, linking vibrational states and scattering suppression in 2D electron systems under strong radiation.

Findings

Zero resistance states emerge at high radiation intensities.

Suppression of scattering due to spatial separation of driven Landau states.

Exponential drop in magnetoresistance correlates with Franck-Condon blockade.

Abstract

We present a microscopic model on radiation-induced zero resistance states according to a novel approach: Franck-Condon physics and blockade. Zero resistance states rise up from radiation-induced magnetoresistance oscillations when the light intensity is strong enough. The theory starts off with the {\it radiation-driven electron orbit model} that proposes an interplay of the swinging nature of the radiation-driven Landau states and the presence of charged impurity scattering. When the intensity of radiation is high enough it turns out that the driven-Landau states (vibrational states) involved in the scattering process are spatially far from each other and the corresponding electron wave functions do not longer overlap. As a result, it takes place a drastic suppression of the scattering probability and then current and magnetoresistance exponentially drop. Finally zero resistance states rise up. This is an application to magnetotransport in two dimensional electron systems of the Franck-Condon blockade, based on the Franck-Condon physics which in turn stems from molecular vibrational spectroscopy.