Quantum magnetotransport in a modulated two-dimensional electron gas

Quantum mechanical calculations of the magnetotransport coefficients of a modulated two-dimensional electron gas in a perpendicular magnetic field are presented using the Kubo method. The model modulation potential used is such that the effect of the steepness of the potential and its strength on the band part of the longitudinal resistivity rho(xx) and the Hall resistivity rho(xy) could be studied. In the extreme limit of a very steep potential, a two-dimensional square array of antidots is simulated. Impurity scattering is included in the self-consistent t-matrix approximation. The results show that for a strong lateral superlattice potential, rho(xy) is quenched in the low magnetic field regime and as the magnetic field increases there is a large negative Hall resistivity. The intensity of this negative peak is suppressed as the strength of the modulation potential is decreased. It is also shown that the height of the negative peak depends on the steepness of the potential. The longitudinal resistivity also has some interesting features. There are Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and a double peak structure which depends on both the strength of the modulation potential as well as its slope. The numerical results show that the position and intensity of the lower peak is not very sensitive to a change in the strength of the lattice potential or its steepness. However, the upper peak is greatly reduced when the lattice potential is diminished in strength. The double peak feature in rho(xx) and the negative peak and quenching of the Hall effect at low magnetic fields have been observed experimentally for antidots in both the quasiclassical and quantum regimes. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.