Equilibrium density of an electron-hole liquid in a strong magnetic field: A possibility of phase separation

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.47.16647· OSTI ID:6520157

Skudlarski, P; Vignale, G ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211 (United States)

The ground state of a model electron-hole liquid (EHL) in a strong magnetic field is investigated. In the regime when only a few Landau subbands are occupied the complex behavior of the equilibrium density leads to a possibility of phase separation. At certain magnetic-field strengths the EHL ground-state energy plotted as a function of the density has two local minima corresponding to two phases with different numbers of Landau subbands occupied. As a result the equilibrium density of EHL will have strong discontinuities as a function of the magnetic field, occurring whenever the relative strength of those minima changes. In a nonequilibrium system, such as a real electron-hole droplet, both phases may be present simultaneously. We discuss several luminescence and infrared absorption experiments, and suggest that they indicate such a phase separation.

• OSTI ID: 6520157
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 47:24; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMDO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665000* -- Physics of Condensed Matter-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
DENSITY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON-HOLE DROPLETS
ENERGY
ENERGY LEVELS
EQUILIBRIUM
FERMI GAS
FLUIDS
GASES
GROUND STATES
INFRARED RADIATION
LUMINESCENCE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
SOLID-STATE PLASMA
SPECTRA