Reply to Simon's Comment on "Evidence for an Anisotropic State of Two-Dimensional Electrons in High Landau Levels"

TL;DR

This paper defends the existence of an anisotropic electronic state in high Landau levels of a two-dimensional electron gas, supported by new high-mobility sample data, despite classical calculations suggesting magnification effects.

Contribution

It provides new experimental evidence confirming the anisotropic state in high Landau levels, countering classical magnification arguments.

Findings

Anisotropic state persists at very low temperatures.

High mobility samples show consistent anisotropy.

Classical calculations do not negate the experimental observations.

Abstract

We recently reported [PRL 82, 394 (1999)] large transport anisotropies in a two-dimensional electron gas in high Landau levels. These observations were made utilizing both square and Hall bar sample geometries. Simon recently commented [cond-mat/9903086] that a classical calculation of the current flow in the sample shows a magnification of an underlying anisotropy when using a square sample. In this reply we present more recent data obtained with a very high mobility sample, and reiterate that, with or without magnification, an anisotropic state develops in high Landau levels at very low temperatures.