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.
Bell Laboratories, Alcatel-Lucent, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974, USA.
M J
MJ
Manfra
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R
de Picciotto
Z
Z
Jiang
S H
SH
Simon
L N
LN
Pfeiffer
K W
KW
West
A M
AM
Sergent