Observation of dynamical ordering in a confined Wigner crystal.
We present measurements of the conduction of nondegenerate free electrons along a low-dimensional channel at low temperatures, using surface-state electrons on liquid helium in novel microelectronic devices. Above 1 K, the electrons form an ideal classical Drude conductor. Below 1 K, Coulomb interactions produce electronic spatial order, leading to strong non-Ohmic effects and negative differential conductivity. Evidence is presented for self-organized current filaments in the channel, created by a nonequilibrium phase transition. Periodic conductance oscillations suggest an anisotropic spatial order with lines of electrons along the channel edges.
Glasson
P
P
Department of Physics, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, United Kingdom.
Dotsenko
V
V
Fozooni
P
P
Lea
M J
MJ
Bailey
W
W
Papageorgiou
G
G
Andresen
S E
SE
Kristensen
A
A