The quantum Hall ferromagnet at high filling factors: A magnetic field induced Stoner transition

TL;DR

This paper investigates spin splitting in the integer quantum Hall effect within AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures, demonstrating a magnetic field induced transition driven by many-body interactions rather than single-particle Zeeman energy.

Contribution

It introduces a simple, parameter-free model that predicts the magnetic field for spin splitting, framing the quantum Hall ferromagnet as a magnetic field induced Stoner transition.

Findings

Model accurately predicts the magnetic field for spin splitting

Spin splitting results from a competition between disorder energy and exchange energy

Quantum Hall ferromagnetism can be viewed as a Stoner transition

Abstract

Spin splitting in the integer quantum Hall effect is investigated for a series of Al$_{x}$Ga$_{1-x}$As/GaAs heterojunctions and quantum wells. Magnetoresistance measurements are performed at mK temperature to characterize the electronic density of states and estimate the strength of many body interactions. A simple model with no free parameters correctly predicts the magnetic field required to observe spin splitting confirming that the appearance of spin splitting is a result of a competition between the disorder induced energy cost of flipping spins and the exchange energy gain associated with the polarized state. In this model, the single particle Zeeman energy plays no role, so that the appearance of this quantum Hall ferromagnet in the highest occupied Landau level can also be thought of as a magnetic field induced Stoner transition.