High magnetic field studies of two-dimensional electron gas in a GaN/GaAlN heterostructure: Mechanisms of parallel conduction

Abstract

We report on quantum Hall effect (QHE) and Shubnikov–de-Haas (SdH) measurements for a GaN/GaAlN heterostructure in high magnetic fields (up to 35 T). The observed well defined SdH oscillations, correlated with QHE plateaus, confirm the existence of a two-dimensional electron gas at the GaN/GaAlN interface. The Shubnikov–de-Haas oscillations are superimposed on a strong positive magnetoresistance. We show that this positive magnetoresistance can be linked to a parallel conduction channel. The analysis of the high magnetic field data yields information about the carrier concentration and mobility in this channel. The concentration and mobility of two-dimensional gas and the parallel conduction layer are analyzed in a wide temperature range (1.9–77 K). A physical model (based on the band diagram and mobility calculations) explaining the origin of parallel conduction is presented.