Flux superperiods and periodicity transitions in quantum Hall interferometers

Abstract

For strongly screened Coulomb interactions, quantum Hall interferometers can operate in a novel regime: the intrinsic energy gap can be larger than the charging energy, and addition of flux quanta can occur without adding quasi-particles. We show that flux superperiods are possible, and reconcile their appearance with the Byers-Yang theorem. We explain that the observation of anyonic statistical phases is possible by tuning to the transition from a regime with constant chemical potential to a regime with constant particle density, where a flux superperiod changes to a periodicity with one flux quantum at a critical magnetic field strength.

5 pages, 2 figures