A classical model for the negative dc conductivity of ac-driven 2D electrons near the cyclotron resonance

Abstract

A classical model for {\em dc} transport of two dimensional electrons in a perpendicular magnetic field and under strong irradiation is considered. We demonstrate that, near the cyclotron resonance condition, and for {\em linear} polarization of the {\em ac} field, a strong change of the diagonal component, ${\sigma }_d$, of the {\em dc} conductivity occurs in the presence of a {\em weak} nonparabolicity of the electron spectrum. Small change in the electron effective mass due to irradiation can lead to negative ${\sigma }_d$, while the Hall component of the {\em dc} conductivity remains practically unchanged. Within the model considered, the sign of ${\sigma }_d$ depends on the relative orientation of the {\em dc} and {\em ac} fields, the sign of the detuning of the {\em ac} frequency from the cyclotron resonance, and the sign of nonparabolic term in the energy spectrum.

4 pages, 1 figure