Abstract
Interacting two-dimensional electrons confined in a GaAs quantum well exhibit isotropic transport when the Fermi level resides in the first excited (N=1) Landau level. Adding an in-plane magnetic field (B||) typically leads to an anisotropic, stripelike (nematic) phase of electrons with the stripes oriented perpendicular to the B|| direction. Our experimental data reveal how a periodic density modulation, induced by a surface strain grating from strips of negative electron-beam resist, competes against the B||-induced orientational order of the stripe phase. Even a minute (<0.25%) density modulation is sufficient to reorient the stripes along the direction of the surface grating.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 076803 |
Journal | Physical review letters |
Volume | 117 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 11 2016 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Physics and Astronomy