A. M. M. Pruisken

Theory of the quantized hall effect (II)

Abstract We review the derivation that the effective lagrangian describing the critical fluctuations in a two-dimensional disordered electronic system in a transverse magnetic field contains a novel, topological term. We extend this result in several directions. We show how the importance of topological concepts can be seen by examining in detail the nature of the boundary current whenever the Fermi energy lies within a localized state region. This insight allows us to construct a field theoretic quantization argument. Our argument is reminiscent of the Laughlin-Halperin quantization approach, in that we make use of the response of the system to sources with nontrivial gauge topology. This then leads to a discussion of how to use the effective field theory to actually compute the response, and of why localization must break down somewhere within the Landau band. Our methodology unifies the results of Laughlin, Halperin and Thouless with the field theoretic approach to localization pioneered by Wegner.

The Anderson model for electron localisation non-linear σ model, asymptotic gauge invariance

Abstract The Anderson model for localisation problems is treated with field theory, employing the replica trick. We show that no valid perturbation theory results out of the usual (S2)2 formalism due to mishandling of symmetries. The problem is reformulated in terms of matrix fields. It is shown that the Anderson model asymptotically exhibits an exact local gauge symmetry. Elimination of massive longitudinal components leads to a non-compact σ model, obtained earlier for the description of electronic disorder. We thus establish that the Anderson model is in the same universality class as Wegners gauge invariant real matrix model.

Probing the plateau-insulator quantum phase transition in the quantum hall regime

We report quantum Hall experiments on the plateau-insulator transition in a low mobility In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As/InP heterostructure. The data for the longitudinal resistance rho(xx) follow an exponential law and we extract a critical exponent kappa = 0.55+/-0. 05 which is slightly different from the established value kappa = 0. 42+/-0.04 for the plateau transitions. Upon correction for inhomogeneity effects, which cause the critical conductance sigma(*)(xx) to depend marginally on temperature, our data indicate that the plateau-plateau and plateau-insulator transitions are in the same universality class.

(Mis-)handling gauge invariance in the theory of the quantum Hall effect. III: The instanton vacuum and chiral-edge physics

The concepts of an instanton vacuum and F-invariance are used to derive a complete effective theory of massless edge excitations in the quantum Hall effect. We establish, for the first time, the fundamental relation between the instanton vacuum approach and the theory of chiral edge bosons. Two longstanding problems of smooth disorder and Coulomb interactions are addressed. We introduce a two dimensional network of chiral edge states and tunneling centers (saddlepoints) as a model for the plateau transitions. We derive a mean field theory including the Coulomb interactions and explain the recent empirical fits to transport at low temperatures. Secondly, we address the problem of electron tunneling into the quantum Hall edge. We express the problem in terms of an effective Luttinger liquid with conductance parameter (g) equal to the filling fraction (\nu) of the Landau band. Hence, even in the integral regime our results for tunneling are completely non-Fermi liquid like, in sharp contrast to the predictions of single edge theories.

Cracking Coulomb Interactions in the Quantum Hall Regime

We introduce a field theory for localization and interaction effects in the (integral) quantum Hall regime. The theory reconciles Finkelshteins generalized non-linear σ-model approach with the Levine-Libby-Pruisken mechanism for delocalization. We report the results of a complete one-instanton analysis and propose a unifying renormalization theory which includes the phase-breaking effects of temperature, frequency and internal electric field.

Non-Fermi-liquid theory for disordered metals near two dimensions

We consider the finkelstein action describing a system of spin polarized or spinless electrons near two dimensions, in the presence of disorder as well as the Coulomb interactions.We extend the renormalization group analysis of our previous work and evaluate the metal-insulator transition of the electron gas to second order in an (d-2) expansion. We obtain the complete scaling behavior of physical observables like the conductivity and the specific heat with varying frequency, temperature and/or electron density.

θ renormalization, electron-electron interactions and super universality in the quantum Hall regime

Abstract The renormalization theory of the quantum Hall effect relies primarily on the non-perturbative concept of θ renormalization by instantons. Within the generalized non-linear σ model approach initiated by Finkelstein we obtain the physical observables of the interacting electron gas, formulate the general (topological) principles by which the Hall conductance is robustly quantized and derive—for the first time—explicit expressions for the non-perturbative (instanton) contributions to the renormalization group β and γ functions. Our results are in complete agreement with the recently proposed idea of super universality which says that the fundamental aspects of the quantum Hall effect are all generic features the instanton vacuum concept in asymptotically free field theory.

Non-fermi liquid criticality and superuniversality in the quantum hall regime

The results of a microscopic theory, based on the topological concept of a θ vacuum, which show that the Coulomb potential, unlike any finite-ranged interaction potential, renders the long-standing problem of the plateau transitions in the quantum Hall regime like a non-Fermi liquid are reported. These results, which are important for quantum-phase transitions in general and composite fermion ideas in particular, provide a novel understanding of the critical exponent values that have recently been (re-)taken from a series of state-of-the-art quantum Hall samples.

The effects of macroscopic inhomogeneities on the magnetotransport properties of the electron gas in two dimensions

Abstract In experiments on electron transport, the macroscopic inhomogeneities in the sample play a fundamental role. In this paper and a subsequent one, we introduce and develop a general formalism that captures the principal features of sample inhomogeneities ( density gradients, contact misalignments ) in the magnetoresistance data taken from low-mobility heterostructures. We present detailed assessments and experimental investigations of the different regimes of physical interest, notably the regime of semiclassical transport at weak magnetic fields, the plateau–plateau transitions as well as the plateau–insulator transition that generally occurs at much stronger values of the external field only. It is shown that the semiclassical regime at weak fields plays an integral role in the general understanding of the experiments on the quantum Hall regime. The results of this paper clearly indicate that the plateau–plateau transitions, unlike the plateau–insulator transition, are fundamentally affected by the presence of sample inhomogeneities. We propose a universal scaling result for the magnetoresistance parameters. This result facilitates, amongst many other things, a detailed understanding of the difficulties associated with the experimental methodology of H.P. Wei et al. in extracting the quantum critical behavior of the electron gas from the transport measurements conducted on the plateau–plateau transitions.

Coulomb blockade and superuniversality of the theta angle.

Based on the Ambegaokar-Eckern-Schön approach to the Coulomb blockade, we develop a complete quantum theory of the single electron transistor. We identify a previously unrecognized physical observable in the problem that, unlike the usual average charge on the island, is robustly quantized for any finite value of the tunneling conductance as the temperature goes to absolute zero. This novel quantity is fundamentally related to the nonsymmetrized current noise of the system. Our results display all of the superuniversal topological features of the theta angle concept that previously arose in the theory of the quantum Hall effect.