Resonance peak shift in the photocurrent of ultrahigh-mobility two-dimensional electron systems

Abstract

We report on a theoretical study on the rise of strong peaks at the harmonics of the cyclotron resonance in the irradiated magnetoresistance in ultraclean two-dimensional electron systems. The motivation is the experimental observation of a totally unexpected strong resistance peak showing up at the second harmonic. We extend the radiation-driven electron orbit model (previously developed to study photocurrent oscillations and zero resistance states) to an ultraclean scenario that implies a longer scattering time and longer mean free path. Thus, when the mean free path is equivalent, in terms of energy, to twice the cyclotron energy (2ℏwc), the electron behaves as under an effective magnetic field that is twice the one actually applied. Then, at high radiation power and/or low temperature, a resistance spike can be observed at the second harmonic. For even cleaner samples the energy distance could increase to three or four times the cyclotron energy giving rise to resistance peaks at higher harmonics (third, fourth, etc.), i.e., a resonance peak shift to lower magnetic fields as the quality of the sample increases. Thus, by selecting the sample mobility, one automatically would select the radiation resonance response without altering the radiation frequency.