Observing Laughlin's pump using quantized edge states in graphene

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Jessen, Bjarke S., Kapfer, Maëlle, Zhao, Yuhao, Watanabe, Kenji, Taniguchi, Takashi, Dean, Cory R., Zilberberg, Oded
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Jessen, Bjarke S.
Kapfer, Maëlle
Zhao, Yuhao
Watanabe, Kenji
Taniguchi, Takashi
Dean, Cory R.
Zilberberg, Oded
author_facet Jessen, Bjarke S.
Kapfer, Maëlle
Zhao, Yuhao
Watanabe, Kenji
Taniguchi, Takashi
Dean, Cory R.
Zilberberg, Oded
contents Laughlin's thought experiment of quantized charge pumping is central to understanding the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE) and the topological origin of its conductance quantization. Its direct experimental observation, however, has been hindered by the difficulty of realizing clean electronic edges. We address this by fabricating ultra-small, lithographically defined contacts on graphene. This creates a Corbino-equivalent system, with well-confined inner edge states. Crucially, the small contact size induces strong energy quantization of the edge states. This quantization allows us to directly resolve the spectral flow associated with Laughlin's pump. By tracing the finite-size resonances of the inner edge, we observe clear oscillations in conductance as a function of magnetic field and carrier density. The oscillation period scales with contact size, consistent with quantized charge transfer. Thus, our results provide a direct observation of the spectral flow underlying Laughlin's pump. The simplicity of the graphene platform makes this approach scalable and robust for exploring fundamental topological effects.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_21271
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Observing Laughlin's pump using quantized edge states in graphene
Jessen, Bjarke S.
Kapfer, Maëlle
Zhao, Yuhao
Watanabe, Kenji
Taniguchi, Takashi
Dean, Cory R.
Zilberberg, Oded
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Quantum Physics
Laughlin's thought experiment of quantized charge pumping is central to understanding the integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE) and the topological origin of its conductance quantization. Its direct experimental observation, however, has been hindered by the difficulty of realizing clean electronic edges. We address this by fabricating ultra-small, lithographically defined contacts on graphene. This creates a Corbino-equivalent system, with well-confined inner edge states. Crucially, the small contact size induces strong energy quantization of the edge states. This quantization allows us to directly resolve the spectral flow associated with Laughlin's pump. By tracing the finite-size resonances of the inner edge, we observe clear oscillations in conductance as a function of magnetic field and carrier density. The oscillation period scales with contact size, consistent with quantized charge transfer. Thus, our results provide a direct observation of the spectral flow underlying Laughlin's pump. The simplicity of the graphene platform makes this approach scalable and robust for exploring fundamental topological effects.
title Observing Laughlin's pump using quantized edge states in graphene
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.21271