The existence of a metal-insulator transition in two dimensions continues to be an unresolved question. Here we investigate the microscopic properties of a two dimensional (2D) hole gas as its density is varied across the metal-insulator transition. We find that as the density is lowered across the transition the system fragments into microscopic charge configuration that interact with one another through quantum mechanical tunneling and Coulomb interactions. The measurements are done at mili Kelvin temperatures using a single electron transistor that is mounted on the surface of the 2D system.
- 1. S. Ilani, A. Yacoby, D. Mahalu, H. Shtrikman
"Unexpected
behavior of the local compressibility near the B=0 metal-insulator
transition"
Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3133 (2000).
- 2. S. Ilani, A. Yacoby, D. Mahalu, H. Shtrikman
"The
Microscopic Structure of the Metal Insulator Transition in Two
Dimensions"
Science, 292(2001)1354.
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