The Quantum Hall Effect in the Absence of Disorder

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a quasi-particle Wigner crystal can produce quantized Hall conductance plateaus even without disorder, challenging the traditional view that disorder is necessary for the quantum Hall effect.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that a quasi-particle Wigner crystal can sustain quantum Hall plateaus in the absence of disorder, providing a new perspective on the phenomenon.

Findings

Plateaus persist without disorder due to Wigner crystal formation

Experimental features of zero-disorder limit are characterized

Challenges the belief that disorder is essential for quantum Hall effect

Abstract

It is widely held that disorder is essential to the existence of a finite interval of magnetic field in which the Hall conductance is quantized, i.e. for the existence of `plateaus' in the quantum Hall effect. Here, we show that the existence of a quasi-particle Wigner crystal results in the persistence of plateaus of finite extent even in the limit of vanishing disorder. Several experimentally detectable features that characterize the behavior in the zero disorder limit are also explored.