Screening Model of Magnetotransport Hysteresis Observed in Bilayer Quantum Hall Systems

TL;DR

This paper combines theoretical and experimental methods to explain a hysteresis effect in the magnetoresistance of bilayer quantum Hall systems, attributing it to screening effects like incompressible strip formation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel explanation for hysteresis in bilayer quantum Hall systems based on nonlinear screening theory and local conductivity models.

Findings

Hysteresis is caused by screening effects hindering electron density equilibrium.

Theoretical model successfully explains experimental observations.

Incompressible strips play a key role in the hysteresis phenomenon.

Abstract

We report on theoretical and experimental investigations of a novel hysteresis effect that has been observed on the magnetoresistance of quantum-Hall bilayer systems. Extending to these system a recent approach, based on the Thomas-Fermi-Poisson nonlinear screening theory and a local conductivity model, we are able to explain the hysteresis as being due to screening effects such as the formation of ``incompressible strips'', which hinder the electron density in a layer within the quantum Hall regime to reach its equilibrium distribution.