Conduction threshold and pinning frequency of magnetically induced Wigner solid

Abstract

The 2D quantum system of electrons at a GaAs/GaAlAs heterojunction in high magnetic field at low temperature is shown to exhibit conduction typical of pinned charge-density waves. Crossover from Ohmic conduction occurs on the same boundary at which radio-frequency resonances signal the onset of transverse elasticity. A further small non-Ohmic region is isolated from the main area by a v=1/5 quantum-Hall-effect phase. The relationship found between the threshold conduction field and the resonance frequency is well accounted for by a model of pinned electron crystallites.