Zener Tunneling between the Landau Levels in a Two-Dimensional Electron System with One-Dimensional Periodic Modulation

Abstract

Nonlinear magnetotransport in a two-dimensional electron gas in one-dimensional lateral lattices fabricated from a selectively doped GaAs/AlAs heterostructure is investigated. One-dimensional potential modulation is imposed on the two-dimensional electron gas by means of a set of metal strips formed on the planar surface of Hall bars. The dependences of the differential resistance r_xx on the magnetic field B < 0.5 T are studied at a temperature T = 1.6 K in lattices with a period of a ≈ 200nm. It is shown that periodic oscillations in r_xx(1/B) occur in such lattices under the action of a current-induced Hall field due to Zener tunneling between Landau levels. Interference is found between Zener oscillations and commensurability oscillations of r_xx in two-dimensional electron systems with one-dimensional periodic modulation. The experimental results are qualitatively explained by the role of Landau bands in nonlinear transport at large filling factors.