INTEREDGE INTERACTION IN THE QUANTUM HALL-EFFECT

We consider the effects of the interaction between electrons drifting along the opposite sides of a narrow sample under the conditions of the quantum Hall effect. A spatial variation of this interaction leads to backward scattering of collective excitations propagating along the edges. Experiments on propagation of the edge modes in samples with constrictions may give information about the strength of the interedge electron interaction in the quantum Hall regime. © 1995 The American Physical Society.