Impact of spin-orbit coupling on quantum Hall nematic phases.
Anisotropic charge transport is observed in a two-dimensional (2D) hole system in a perpendicular magnetic field at filling factors nu=7/2, nu=11/2, and nu=13/2 at low temperature. In stark contrast, the transport at nu=9/2 is isotropic for all temperatures. Isotropic hole transport at nu=7/2 is restored for sufficiently low 2D densities or an asymmetric confining potential. The density and symmetry dependences of the observed anisotropies suggest that strong spin-orbit coupling in the hole system contributes to the unusual transport behavior.
Manfra
M J
MJ
Bell Laboratories, Alcatel-Lucent, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974, USA.
de Picciotto
R
R
Jiang
Z
Z
Simon
S H
SH
Pfeiffer
L N
LN
West
K W
KW
Sergent
A M
AM