Correlated states of 2D electrons near the Landau level filling $\nu=1/7$

TL;DR

This study experimentally investigates correlated states of 2D electrons near $ u=1/7$, revealing fractional quantum Hall states and pinned Wigner solids at very low Landau level fillings in ultra-high-mobility GaAs samples.

Contribution

First experimental observation of fractional quantum Hall states at $ u=1/7$ and related fillings in ultra-high-mobility GaAs 2DESs, highlighting the impact of reduced disorder.

Findings

Deep minimum in $R_{xx}$ at $ u=1/7$ at 104 mK

Emerging minimum at $ u=2/13$

Evidence of pinned Wigner solid states away from fractional fillings

Abstract

The ground state of two-dimensional electron systems (2DESs) at low Landau level filling factors ($\nu\lesssim1/6$) has long been a topic of interest and controversy in condensed matter. Following the recent breakthrough in the quality of ultra-high-mobility GaAs 2DESs, we revisit this problem experimentally and investigate the impact of reduced disorder. In a GaAs 2DES sample with density $n=6.1\times10^{10}$ /cm$^2$ and mobility $\mu=25\times10^6$ cm$^2$/Vs, we find a deep minimum in the longitudinal magnetoresistance ($R_{xx}$) at $\nu=1/7$ when $T\simeq104$ mK. There is also a clear sign of a developing minimum in the $R_{xx}$ at $\nu=2/13$. While insulating phases are still predominant when $\nu\lesssim1/6$, these minima strongly suggest the existence of fractional quantum Hall states at filling factors that comply with the Jain sequence $\nu=p/(2mp\pm1)$ even in the very low Landau level filling limit. The magnetic field dependent activation energies deduced from the relation $R_{xx}\propto e^{E_A/2kT}$ corroborate this view, and imply the presence of pinned Wigner solid states when $\nu\neq p/(2mp\pm1)$. Similar results are seen in another sample with a lower density, further generalizing our observations.