Quantum Conductors in a Plane

Abstract

When electrons are confined to move in a plane, strange things happen. For example, under normal circumstances, they are not expected to conduct electricity at low temperatures. However, recent experiments on a dilute electron gas confined to move at the interface between two semiconductors pose a distinct counterexample to the standard view. Transport measurements reveal that as the temperature is lowered, the resistivity drops without any signature of the anticipated up-turn as required by the standard account. It is the possible existence of a new conducting state in two dimensions that is the primary focus of this session.