Thermomagnetic effect in a two-dimensional electron system with an asymmetric quantizing potential

Abstract

In a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction an electromotive force (EMF) was experimentally observed in the presence of a magnetic field parallel to the 2DEG plane and in the presence of a heating of the 2DEG with respect to the crystal lattice. The origin of this effect is the asymmetric quantizing potential of heterojunctions in the presence of a magnetic field which leads to an asymmetrical electron energy spectrum in the plane of 2DEG in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field. The asymmetry of the electron energy spectrum leads to an asymmetrical electron-phonon interaction which results in the appearance of the EMF investigated. The value of the measured EMF is in agreement with theoretical estimations.