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Topological defects, orientational order, and depinning of the electron solid in a random potential.

Cha,Fertig

Published 1994 in Physical Review B (Condensed Matter)

ABSTRACT

We report on the results of molecular-dynamics simulation studies of the classical two-dimensional electron crystal in the presence of disorder. Our study is motivated by recent experiments on this system in modulation-doped semiconductor systems in very strong magnetic fields, where the magnetic length is much smaller than the average interelectron spacing [ital a][sub 0], as well as by recent studies of electrons on the surface of helium. We investigate the low-temperature state of this system using a simulated-annealing method. We find that the low-temperature state of the system always has isolated dislocations, even at the weakest disorder levels investigated. We also find evidence for a transition from a hexatic glass to an isotropic glass as the disorder is increased. The former is characterized by quasi-long-range orientational order, and the absence of disclination defects in the low-temperature state, and the latter by short-range orientational order and the presence of these defects. The threshold electric field is also studied as a function of the disorder strength, and is shown to have a characteristic signature of the transition. Finally, the qualitative behavior of the electron flow in the depinned state is shown to change continuously from an elastic flow to a channel-like, plasticmore » flow as the disorder strength is increased.« less

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