Synthesizing a ν=2/3 fractional quantum Hall effect edge state from counter-propagating ν=1 and ν=1/3 states.

Cohen, Yonatan; Ronen, Yuval; Yang, Wenmin; Banitt, Daniel; Park, Jinhong; Heiblum, Moty; Mirlin, Alexander D; Gefen, Yuval et al. · Nat Commun · 2019

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Topological edge-reconstruction occurs in hole-conjugate states of the fractional quantum Hall effect. The frequently studied filling factor, ν = 2/3, was originally proposed to harbor two counter-propagating modes: a downstream v = 1 and an upstream v = 1/3. However, charge equilibration between these two modes always led to an observed downstream v = 2/3 charge mode accompanied by an upstream neutral mode. Here, we present an approach to synthetize a v = 2/3 edge mode from its basic counter-propagating charged constituents, allowing a controlled equilibration between the two counter-propagating charge modes. This platform is based on a carefully designed double-quantum-well, which hosts two populated electronic sub-bands (lower and upper), with corresponding filling factors, v<sub>l</sub> and v<sub>u</sub>. By separating the 2D plane to two gated intersecting halves, each with different fillings, counter-propagating chiral modes can be formed along the intersection line. Equilibration between these modes can be controlled with the top gates' voltage and the magnetic field.