The Quantum Hall Transition in Real Space: From Localized to Extended States

K. Hashimoto, C. Sohrmann, J. Wiebe, T. Inaoka, F. Meier, Y. Hirayama, R. A. Roemer, R. Wiesendanger, M. Morgenstern

Published 2008-07-24, updated 2008-09-26Version 3

Using scanning tunneling spectroscopy in ultra-high vacuum at low temperature (T = 0.3 K) and high magnetic fields (B < 12 T), we directly probe electronic wave functions across an integer quantum Hall transition. In accordance with theoretical predictions, we observe the evolution from localized drift states in the insulating phases to branched extended drift states at the quantum critical point. The observed microscopic behavior close to the extended state indicates points of localized quantum tunneling, which are considered to be decisive for a quantitative description of the transition.