Skyrmions in Quantum Hall Systems with Realistic Force-Laws

TL;DR

This paper investigates skyrmion excitations in quantum Hall systems considering realistic force-laws that account for finite electron gas width, predicting observable large-spin transitions at various filling fractions.

Contribution

It extends the understanding of skyrmion excitations to higher filling fractions in quantum Hall systems with realistic force-laws.

Findings

Skyrmions are the low-energy excitations at multiple filling fractions.

Large-spin transitions are predicted at higher filling fractions with reduced Zeeman energy.

Abstract

We study the charged excitations of quantum Hall systems at integer filling fractions $\nu=2n+1$, for a force-law that takes account of the finite width of the electron gas. For typical values of this width, in the limit of vanishing Zeeman energy we find that the low-energy excitations are ``skyrmions'' not only at $\nu=1$ but also at higher filling fractions. Our results lead to the prediction that, in typical samples, abrupt transitions to charged excitations with very large spins should be observable at filling fractions higher than $\nu=1$ if the Zeeman energy is reduced sufficiently.