Direct Observation of Edge Channels in the Integer Quantum Hall Regime

Abstract

The (differential) lateral photoeffect has been used as an imaging technique to study edge channel transport in a two-dimensional electron gas under quantum Hall conditions. By controlling the total number of electrons as well as the gradient in the electron concentration, we are able to image the edge channels. The observed width of the channels is in quantitative agreement with the theoretically predicted compressible and incompressible regions in the integer quantum Hall regime.