Composite-fermion edge states and transport through nanostructures in the fractional quantum Hall regime.

Abstract

A theory of transport through semiconductor nanostructures in the fractional quantum Hall regime is proposed, based on a model of composite fermion edge states. Adiabatic and non-adiabatic constrictions and constrictions containing artificial impurities are studied as examples. The results obtained, including the temperature dependent behavior of Aharonov-Bohm resonances in the fractional regime, are in good agreement with experiments. The temperature dependence predicted by the composite fermion theory for features in the two-terminal conductance of both adiabatic constrictions and constrictions with artificial impurities, is close to that expected from ordinary Fermi liquid phenomenology. However there are significant differences that should be detectable by careful measurements. Some differences between the present results and those obtained from Luttinger liquid models are discussed in the context of the available experimental data.