Two-dimensional electron gas in uniform magnetic and electric fields

Abstract

The thermodynamic potential of an ideal nonrelativistic gas of two-dimensional electrons in crossed uniform magnetic and electric fields is constructed. For low temperatures and very weak electric fields, it is shown that the Hall conductance is always quantized at integral multiples of $e^2/h$ over a large range of strong magnetic fields. This could be viewed as a quantum statistical explanation of the integral quantum Hall effect. Magnetic properties of the system at high temperatures are briefly discussed.

11 pages, LaTex, No figure