Evidence for a new symmetry breaking mechanism reorienting quantum Hall nematics

Abstract

We report on the effect of in-plane magnetic field $B_{\parallel }$ on stripe phases in higher ($N=2,3$) Landau levels of a high-mobility 2D electron gas. In accord with previous studies, we find that a modest $B_{\parallel }$ applied parallel to the native stripes aligns them perpendicular to it. However, upon further increase of $B_{\parallel }$, stripes are reoriented back to their native direction. Remarkably, applying $B_{\parallel }$ perpendicular to the native stripes also aligns stripes parallel to it. Thus, regardless of the initial orientation of stripes with respect to $B_{\parallel }$, stripes are ultimately aligned \emph{parallel} to $B_{\parallel }$. These findings provide evidence for a $B_{\parallel }$-induced symmetry breaking mechanism which challenge current understanding of the role of $B_{\parallel }$ and should be taken into account when determining the strength of the native symmetry breaking potential. Finally, our results might indicate nontrivial coupling between the native and external symmetry breaking fields, which has not yet been theoretically considered.

arXiv comment4 pages, 3 figures

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Cited by in corpus (15)

• Unconventional anisotropic even-denominator fractional quantum Hall state in a system with mass anisotropy
• Anisotropy Driven Transition from Moore-Read State to Quantum Hall Stripes
• Microscopic theory for nematic fractional quantum Hall effect
• Onset of Quantum Criticality in the Topological-to-Nematic Transition in a Two-dimensional Electron Gas at Filling Factor $\nu =5/2$
• Reorientation of the stripe Phase of 2D Electrons by a Minute Density Modulation
• Anomalous Nematic States in High Half-Filled Landau Levels
• Effect of density on quantum Hall stripe orientation in tilted magnetic fields
• Observation of An Anisotropic Wigner Crystal
• Competition of Pairing and Nematicity in the Two-Dimensional Electron Gas
• Apparent temperature-induced reorientation of quantum Hall stripes
• Hidden Quantum Hall Stripes in Al${}_x$Ga${}_{1-x}$As/Al${}_{0.24}$Ga${}_{0.76}$As Quantum Wells
• Orientation of hole quantum Hall nematic phases in an out-of-plane electric field
• Anomalous nematic-to-stripe phase transition driven by in-plane magnetic fields
• Quantum Hall stripes in high-density GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells
• Cascade of fractional quantum Hall states in 2D system