Rectified Coulomb Drag Induced by Wigner Crystallization in Quantum Wires

Abstract

We measure Coulomb drag between parallel quantum wires which have the same length but are slightly displaced from each other along the wire direction. We observe a rectified Coulomb drag in which sign of the drag voltage is the same, independent on the current direction in the drive‐wire, under the conditions of strong correlation, i.e., low electron density, high magnetic field and low temperature. From this experiment, we conclude the formation of Wigner crystal and discuss the non‐linear motion of Wigner crystal in the drag‐wire induced by an electrostatic potential from the adjacent drive‐wire.