Topological phase transition between Jain states and daughter states of the ν = 1/2 fractional quantum Hall state

S. K. Singh, C. Wang, C. T. Tai, C. S. Calhoun, K. A. Villegas Rosales, P. T. Madathil, A. Gupta, K. W. Baldwin, L. N. Pfeiffer, M. Shayegan

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The even-denominator fractional quantum Hall state at a filling factor of ν = 1/2 is an intriguing many-body phase in two-dimensional electron systems, as it appears in the ground state rather than an excited Landau level. It is observed in wide quantum wells where the electrons have a bilayer charge distribution with finite tunnelling between the layers. Whether this state takes an Abelian two-component form or a non-Abelian one-component form has been debated since its experimental discovery. Here we report the observation of the ν = 1/2 state that is flanked by numerous Jain-sequence composite fermion states at ν = p/(2p ± 1) up to ν = 8/17 and 9/17. As we raise the density, the ν = 1/2 state is strengthened, its energy gap increases up to 4 K and, at the same time, the 8/17 and 7/13 states abruptly become stronger than their neighbouring high-order fractions. The states at ν = 8/17 and 7/13 are the theoretically predicted, simplest daughter states of the one-component Pfaffian ν = 1/2 state. This means that our data suggest a topological phase transition of 8/17 and 7/13 states from the Jain-sequence states to the daughter states of the Pfaffian.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalNature Physics
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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