Spin-Selective Equilibration among Integer Quantum Hall Edge Channels

TL;DR

This paper presents a systematic framework for measuring and analyzing spin-selective equilibration among multiple integer quantum Hall edge channels, revealing controllable coupling effects influenced by magnetic field and density.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to analyze spin-selective equilibration in up to 8 edge modes, advancing understanding of edge channel interactions in high-mobility samples.

Findings

Spin-selective coupling dominates between non-neighboring channels with parallel spins.

Magnetic field and bulk density can suppress equilibration, isolating microscopic scatterers.

The method aids in designing improved quantum Hall devices and studying exotic states.

Abstract

The equilibration between quantum Hall edge modes is known to depend on the disorder potential and the steepness of the edge. Modern samples with higher mobilities and setups with lower electron temperatures call for a further exploration of the topic. We develop a framework to systematically measure and analyze the equilibration of many (up to 8) integer edge modes. Our results show that spin-selective coupling dominates even for non-neighboring channels with parallel spin. Changes in magnetic field and bulk density let us control the equilibration until it is almost completely suppressed and dominated only by individual microscopic scatterers. This method could serve as a guideline to investigate and design improved devices, and to study fractional and other exotic states.