Compressibility of a 2D electron gas under microwave radiation

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that microwave radiation induces strong oscillations in the compressibility of a 2D electron gas, revealing insights into its non-equilibrium state and domain structure through local measurements.

Contribution

It introduces the use of local compressibility measurements to probe the non-equilibrium electron distribution and domain structure in a microwave-irradiated 2DEG.

Findings

Microwave radiation causes oscillations in 2DEG compressibility.

Local probes can reveal domain structures in the zero resistance state.

Non-equilibrium electron distributions are linked to compressibility oscillations.

Abstract

Microwave irradiation of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) produces a non-equilibrium distribution of electrons, and leads to oscillations in the dissipative part of the conductivity. We show that the same non-equilibrium electron distribution induces strong oscillations in the 2DEG compressibility measured by local probes. Local measurements of the compressibility are expected to provide information about the domain structure of the zero resistance state of a 2DEG under microwave radiation.