Cooking a Two-Dimensional Electron Gas with Microwaves

Authors: 
Durst, Adam C. and Girvin, Steven M.
Name of the Journal: 
Science
Date of Pub: 
June 18, 2004
Year of Publication: 
2004
Volume: 
304
Issue: 
5678
Pages: 
1752-1753
Publisher Name, Address and Year: 
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Abstract: 

Two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) are rich test systems for a variety of phenomena in condensed matter physics. In their Perspective, Durst and Girvin discuss a surprising new phenomenon by which the electrical resistance of a 2DEG in a magnetic field can be driven nearly all the way to zero when the system is subjected to microwave radiation. This microwave-induced zero-resistance state may correspond to a new collective state of matter, or alternatively, it may represent an exciting new example of the nonequilibrium physics of pattern formation.