Speaker:  Herbert A. Fertig, Indiana University

Title:   Soft Condensed Matter in a Semiconductor: The Case for the Quantum Hall Smectic

Abstract:  The two-dimensional electron gas in a strong perpendicular magnetic field is well known for its rich physics associated with the quantized Hall effect. In recent years it has been discovered that these same systems support unusual highly anisotropic conducting states in certain ranges of weaker magnetic fields. The explanation of this effect is likely related to a charge density wave groundstate, with low energy excitations closely akin to those of a smectic liquid crystal. In this talk I will discuss the basic properties of these systems, both as expected from theoretical analyses and as observed in experiment, and explain why the difference between them suggests that one may need exotic (i.e., non-Fermi liquid) physics to fully understand them. The possibility of observing quantum phase transitions in this system will also be discussed.

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