Abstract
The nature of edge reconstruction in the quantum Hall effect (QHE) and the issue of where the current flows have been debated for years. Moreover, the recent observation of proliferation of ‘upstream’ neutral modes in the fractional QHE has raised doubts about the present models of edge channels. Here, we present a new picture of the edge reconstruction in two of the hole-conjugate states. For example, while the present model for ν = (2/3) consists of a single downstream chiral charge channel with conductance (2/3)(e2/h) and an upstream neutral mode, we show that the current is carried by two separate downstream chiral edge channels, each with conductance (1/3)(e2/h). We uncover a novel mechanism of fragmentation of upstream neutral modes into downstream propagating charge modes that induces current fluctuations with zero net current. Our unexpected results underline the need for better understanding of edge reconstruction and energy transport in all fractional QHE states.
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Acknowledgements
M.H. acknowledges the partial support of the Minerva Foundation, grant no. 711752, the German Israeli Foundation (GIF), grant no. I-1241- 303.10/2014, and the European Research Council under the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant agreement No. 339070. Y.G. acknowledges the partial support of DFG Grant No. RO 2247/8-1, the Minerva Foundation, the Russia–Israel IMOS project and by CRC183 of the DFG. I.G. is grateful to the Azrieli Foundation for the award of an Azrieli Fellowship.
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R.S., I.G., A.R. and M.H. designed the experiment, R.S., I.G., A.R., F.L., D.B. and M.H. preformed the measurements, R.S., I.G., A.R., F.L. and M.H. did the analysis, J.P. and Y.G. developed the theoretical model. R.S., I.G., A.R., F.L., J.P., M.H. and Y.G. wrote the paper. V.U. grew the 2DEG and D.M. was responsible for the e-beam lithography.
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Sabo, R., Gurman, I., Rosenblatt, A. et al. Edge reconstruction in fractional quantum Hall states. Nature Phys 13, 491–496 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys4010
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys4010
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