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Article
Liquid crystalline states in quantum Hall systems
Chemistry & Physics Faculty Publications
  • Carlos Wexler, University of Missouri
  • Orion Ciftja, University of Missouri
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-15-2002
Abstract

We investigate liquid crystalline phases with nematic order at 1/3-filling of the valence Landau level (LL). We generalize Laughlin's fractional quantum Hall (QH) effect wavefunction at ν = 1/3 to include anisotropic nodal distribution by modifying the Jastrow factors. Lengthy Monte Carlo simulations are then used to determine with unprecedented accuracy the (anisotropic) pair distribution function g(r) and static structure factor S(q) for various degrees of anisotropy. The determination of the correlation energies at 1/3-filling of an arbitrary LL is then performed by using standard mappings of g(r) and S(q) to higher LLs. Our results indicate that while Laughlin's state is stable in the lowest LL, there are regions of instability towards nematic order in higher LLs. Possible connections to the recently discovered QH liquid crystals are discussed.

Citation Information
Carlos Wexler and Orion Ciftja. "Liquid crystalline states in quantum Hall systems" (2002)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/orion-ciftja/81/