Breakdown of particle–hole symmetry in the lowest Landau level revealed by tunneling spectroscopy

Abstract

Tunneling measurements on 2D electron gases at high magnetic field reveal a qualitative difference between the two spin sublevels of the lowest Landau level. While the tunneling current–voltage characteristic at filling factor ν = 1 / 2 is a single peak shifted from zero bias by a Coulomb pseudogap, the spectrum at ν = 3 / 2 shows a well-resolved double peak structure. This difference is present regardless of whether ν = 1 / 2 and ν = 3 / 2 occur at the same or different magnetic fields. No analogous effect is seen at ν = 5 / 2 and 7/2 in the first excited Landau level.