Electrical conduction in the Wigner lattice in n-type InSb in a magnetic field

Abstract

It is argued that in highly compensated n-type InSb in a magnetic field exceeding a critical value, both electron correlations and disorder are involved in an essential way. Wigner crystallization is then anticipated, and the electrical conductivity measurements of Somerford (1971) are interpreted as due to electrons diffusing via defects in the wigner electronic lattice, and in particular via vacant electronic sites. In view of the theoretical interest of such Wigner crystallization, further experiments are proposed on n-type InSb and other materials (though higher magnetic fields are then needed), including ac transport measurements and Bragg scattering of neutrons.