Weak Field Phase Diagram for an Integer Quantum Hall Liquid

Abstract

We study the localization properties in the transition from a two-dimensional electron gas at zero magnetic field into an integer quantum Hall (QH) liquid. By carrying out a direct calculation of the localization length for a finite size sample using a transfer matrix technique, we systematically investigate the field and disorder dependences of the metal-insulator transition in the weak field QH regime. We obtain a different phase diagram from the one conjectured in previous theoretical studies. In particular, we find that: (1) the extended state energy $E_{c}$ for each Landau level (LL) is {\it always} linear in magnetic field; (2) for a given Landau level and disorder configuration there exists a critical magnetic field $B_{c}$ below which the extended state disappears; (3) the lower LLs are more robust to the metal-insulator transition with smaller $B_{c}$. We attribute the above results to strong LL coupling effect. Experimental implications of our work are discussed.