Discrete network models for the low-field Hall effect near a percolation threshold: Theory and simulations

Abstract

The critical behavior of the weak-field Hall effect near a percolation threshold is studied with the help of two discrete random network models. Many finite realizations of such networks at the percolation threshold are produced and solved to yield the potentials at all sites. A new algorithm for doing that was developed that is based on the transfer matrix method. The site potentials are used to calculate the bulk effective Hall conductivity and Hall coefficient, as well as some other properties, such as the Ohmic conductivity, the size of the backbone, and the number of binodes. Scaling behavior for these quantities as power laws of the network size is determined and values of the critical exponents are found.