Crystallization of the incompressible quantum-fluid state of a two-dimensional electron gas in a strong magnetic field

Abstract

The energy of the incompressible quantum-fluid state proposed by Laughlin for electrons in the lowest Landau level of a two-dimensional electron gas [Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 1395 (1983)] is compared with that of the lattice state. It is found that the lattice state has lower energy for Landau-level filling factors $\nu <\frac{1}{9}$. An accurate parametrization is given for the dependence of the energy of Laughlin's state on the Landaulevel filling factor.