Quantum dots in magnetic fields: Phase diagram and broken symmetry of the Chamon-Wen edge

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum dots in magnetic fields using spin density functional theory, revealing edge reconstructions with broken symmetry and phase transitions consistent with experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a method avoiding symmetry restrictions and uncovers new edge states and phase boundaries in quantum dots under magnetic fields.

Findings

Reconstruction of maximum density droplet into broken symmetry states

Co-existence of Chamon-Wen edge with charge density modulation

Phase boundaries align with recent experimental data

Abstract

Quantum dots in magnetic fields are studied within the current spin density functional formalism avoiding any spatial symmetry restrictions of the solutions. We find that the maximum density droplet reconstructs into states with broken internal symmetry: The Chamon-Wen edge co-exists with a modulation of the charge density along the edge. The phase boundaries between the polarization transition, the maximum density droplet and its reconstruction are in agreement with recent experimental results.