Zener Tunneling Between Landau Orbits in a High-Mobility Two-Dimensional Electron Gas

TL;DR

This paper investigates Zener tunneling between Landau levels in high-mobility 2DEGs, revealing its significant role in magnetoresistance oscillations through experimental observation and theoretical explanation.

Contribution

It demonstrates the importance of Zener tunneling in magnetotransport phenomena in high-mobility 2DEGs, providing experimental evidence and analysis.

Findings

Observation of oscillations in weak field magnetoresistance

Explanation of oscillations via Zener tunneling mechanism

Identification of modified scattering channels in 2DEG

Abstract

Magnetotransport in a laterally confined two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) can exhibit modified scattering channels owing to a tilted Hall potential. Transitions of electrons between Landau levels with shifted guiding centers can be accomplished through a Zener tunneling mechanism, and make a significant contribution to the magnetoresistance. A remarkable oscillation effect in weak field magnetoresistance has been observed in high-mobility 2DEGs in GaAs-AlGa$_{0.3}$As$_{0.7}$ heterostructures, and can be well explained by the Zener mechanism.