Unusual quasiparticles and tunneling conductance in quantum point contacts in $\nu=2/3$ fractional quantum Hall systems

Abstract

Understanding topological matter in the fractional quantum Hall (FQH) effect requires identifying the nature of edge state quasiparticles. FQH edge state at the filling factor $\nu=2/3$ in the spin-polarized and non-polarized phases is represented by the two modes of composite fermions (CF) with the parallel or opposite spins described by the chiral Luttinger liquids. Tunneling through a quantum point contact (QPC) in such systems between different or similar spin phases is solved exactly. With the increase of the applied voltage, the QPC conductance grows from zero and saturates at $e^2/2h$ while a weak electron tunneling between the edge modes with the same spin transforms into a backscattering carried by the charge $q=e/2$ quasiparticles. These unusual quasiparticles and conductance plateau emerge in the QPC with one or two CF modes scattering into a single mode, as occurs in these systems. We propose experiments on the applied voltage and temperature dependence of the QPC conductance and noise that can shed light on the nature of edge states and FQH transport.