Broken Symmetries in the Reconstruction of v=1 Quantum Hall Edges

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex structures and phases of quantum Hall edges at v=1, revealing spin and charge density modulations, phase boundaries, and vortex formations through theoretical models and experimental comparisons.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of broken symmetries and phase structures in quantum Hall edges, combining spin density functional calculations and Chern-Simons Ginzburg-Landau theory.

Findings

Charge density modulations along the edge are observed.

Formation of localized electron rings around the maximum density droplet.

Vortex formation in very soft confinement conditions.

Abstract

Spin-polarized reconstruction of the v=1 quantum Hall edge is accompanied by a spatial modulation of the charge density along the edge. We find that this is also the case for finite quantum Hall droplets: current spin density functional calculations show that the so-called Chamon-Wen edge forms a ring of apparently localized electrons around the maximum density droplet (MDD). The boundaries of these different phases qualitatively agree with recent experiments. For very soft confinement, Chern-Simons Ginzburg-Landau theory indicates formation of a non-translational invariant edge with vortices (holes) trapped in the edge region.