Reciprocal de Haas-van Alphen oscillations in two-dimensional electron superlattice

Abstract

When electrons are subject simultaneously to a magnetic field and a periodic potential with the lattice spacing comparable to the cyclotron radius, the energy states can be characterized by the Hofstadter states at integer and fractional flux quanta. The magnetization oscillation of the electrons may exhibit a constant period as a function of the magnetic field, as opposed to the 1/H periodicity in the conventional de Haas-van Alphen effect. Experimental results supporting the theoretical model will be discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.