Reconstruction of the $\nu =1$ Quantum Hall Edge

TL;DR

This paper investigates the transition of the $ u=1$ quantum Hall edge from a sharp to a reconstructed state, revealing two soft modes indicating a second order phase transition to either a spin-texture or charge density wave edge.

Contribution

It identifies the soft modes and characterizes the second order transition leading to different reconstructed edge states in the quantum Hall system.

Findings

Two modes soften as the confining potential softens.

Transition to a reconstructed edge is second order.

Reconstructed edges can be spin-texture or charge density wave types.

Abstract

The sharp \nu=1 quantum Hall edge present for hard confinement is shown to have two modes that go soft as the confining potential softens. This signals a second order transition to a reconstructed edge that is either a depolarized spin-texture edge or a polarized charge density wave edge.