Nuclear Spin-Lattice Relaxation: A Microscopic Local Probe for Systems Exhibiting the Quantum Hall Effect

Abstract

A theory of magnetic quantum oscillations in the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate, $T_1^{}{}_{}{}^{-1\mathrm{}}$, in quasi-two-dimensional conductors at low temperatures and under strong magnetic fields is presented. We show a close similarity between the magnetic field dependence of $T_1^{}{}_{}{}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ and that of ${\rho }_{\mathrm{xx}}$ in the quantum Hall effect. The shape and the amplitude of the oscillations in $T_1^{}{}_{}{}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ depend strongly on band anisotropy, electron mean free path, spin Larmor frequency, and temperature, and may provide rich information on the sample parameters.