Eur. Phys. J. B 60, 225-229 (2007)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2007-00341-x

Synchronization, zero-resistance states and rotating Wigner crystal

¹ École Normale Supérieure, 45, rue d'Ulm, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
² Department of Physics, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, D-14469, Potsdam, Germany
³ Laboratoire de Physique Théorique, UMR 5152 du CNRS, Université Toulouse III, 31062 Toulouse, France

Received: 22 August 2007
Published online: 8 December 2007

Abstract

We show, in a framework of a classical nonequilibrium model, that rotational angles of electrons moving in two dimensions (2D) in a perpendicular magnetic field can be synchronized by an external microwave field whose frequency is close to the Larmor frequency. The synchronization eliminates collisions between electrons and thus creates a regime with zero diffusion corresponding to the zero-resistance states observed in experiments with high mobility 2D electron gas (2DEG). For long range Coulomb interactions electrons form a rotating hexagonal Wigner crystal. Possible relevance of this effect of synchronization-induced self-assembly for planetary rings is discussed.