Edge channel mixing induced by potential steps in an integer quantum Hall system

D. VENTURELLI; V. GIOVANNETTI; F. TADDEI; R. FAZIO; D. FEINBERG; GONZALO USAJ; C. A. BALSEIRO

PHYSICAL REVIEW B

AMER PHYSICAL SOC

Año: 2011 vol. 83 p. 75315 - 75315

1098-0121

We investigate the coherent mixing of copropagating edge channels in a quantum Hall bar produced by step potentials. In the case of two edge channels it is found that, although a single step induces only a few percent mixing, a series of steps could yield 50% mixing. In addition, a strong mixing is found when the potential height of a single step allows a different number of edge channels on the two sides of the step. Charge density probability has been also calculated even for the case where the step is smoothened.