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Topographic Mapping of the Quantum Hall Liquid using a Few-Electron Bubble
A scanning probe technique was used to obtain a high-resolution map of the
random electrostatic potential inside the quantum Hall liquid. A sharp metal
tip, scanned above a semiconductor surface, sensed charges in an embedded
two-dimensional electron gas. Under quantum Hall effect conditions, applying a
positive voltage to the tip locally enhanced the 2D electron density and
created a ``bubble'' of electrons in an otherwise unoccupied Landau level. As
the tip scanned along the sample surface, the bubble followed underneath. The
tip sensed the motions of single electrons entering or leaving the bubble in
response to changes in the local 2D electrostatic potential.Comment: 4 pages, 3 JPG figures, Revtex. For additional info and AVI movies,
visit http://electron.mit.edu/st
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