A dynamic localization of 2D electrons at mesoscopic length scales

Abstract

We have investigated the local magneto-transport in high-quality 2D electron systems at low carrier densities. The positive magneto-resistance in perpendicular magnetic field in the strongly insulating regime has been measured to evaluate the spatial concentration of localized states within a mesoscopic region of the samples. An independent measurement of the electron density within the same region shows an unexpected correspondence between the density of electrons in the metallic regime and that of the localized states in the insulating phase. We have argued that this correspondence manifests a rigid distribution of electrons at low densities.