Non-Newtonian two-dimensional electron fluid in magnetic field

Abstract

We predict a mechanism for the non-Newtonian behavior of a two-dimensional (2D) electron fluid due to the local Joule heating of electrons. Within this mechanism, the electron shear viscosity is a non-monotonic function of the velocity gradient. This means that 2D electrons form an unusual non-Newtonian fluid, either dilatant or pseudoplastic, depending on the flow regime. We construct and solve the hydrodynamic equations for a hydrodynamic velocity and a corresponding temperature profile for a Poiseuille-like flow geometry. We demonstrate that the considered non-Newtonian non-linearity induced by the local heating is apparently responsible for the nontrivial differential magnetoresistance observed for 2D electrons in ultra-high-quality GaAs quantum wells, so we conclude that a 2D non-Newtonian electron fluid is realized in these systems at high currents.