Equilibrium Current and Orbital Magnetization in a Quantum Hall Fluid

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive theory describing how equilibrium currents distribute in an interacting 2D electron gas under a magnetic field, revealing a pattern of alternating current channels with universal properties.

Contribution

It introduces a general theoretical framework for equilibrium current distribution in interacting quantum Hall systems with slowly varying confining potentials.

Findings

Current distribution consists of alternating current channels.

Channels have universal integrated strength.

The theory applies to interacting two-dimensional electron gases.

Abstract

We present a general theory for the equilibrium current distribution in an interacting two-dimensional electron gas subjected to a perpendicular magnetic field, and confined by a potential that varies slowly on the scale of the magnetic length. The distribution is found to consist of strips or channels of current, which alternate in direction, and which have universal integrated strength.