New Paradigm for Edge Reconstruction of Fractional States: Part One - Conductance

Ron Sabo, Itamar Gurman, Amir Rosenblatt, Fabien Lafont, Daniel Banitt, Moty Heiblum, Vladimir Umansky, Diana Mahalu

Published 2016-03-22Version 1

The nature of edge reconstruction in the quantum Hall (QHE) regime and "where does the current flow" have been debated for years. Moreover, the recent observation of proliferation of "upstream" neutral modes in the fractional regime (FQHE) raised doubts of the existing edge states models. In this letter (Part One of two), we provide evidence of a new model for hole-conjugate fractional states, concentrating on {\nu}=2/3 (and to less extent on {\nu}=3/5). While the present accepted model postulates of a "downstream" charge channel with conductance 2/3 e^2/h and an "upstream" neutral channel, we show that the current is carried by two downstream edge channels, each with conductance 1/3 e^2/h, accompanied by upstream neutral modes. We find that if the two channels are driven out of equilibrium, inter-mode equilibration (via tunneling) takes place in a short distance; with the two channels behave as a single mode with conductance 2/3 e^2/h , while exciting the upstream neutral modes. This unexpected edge reconstruction suggests a non-trivial interplay between charge and neutral modes (addressed in detail in Part Two). These results, in addition to recent ones, stress the need for better understanding of edge reconstruction and energy transport in all fractional QHE states.