Landau level physics in a quantum well: New singular features in magnetization and violations of de Haas-van Alphen periodicities

Abstract

Analytical calculations based on a Landau Level (LL) picture are reported for an interface (with a finite-width Quantum Well (QW)) and for a fully three-dimensional charged quantum electronic system in an external magnetic field. They lead to a sequence of previously unnoticed singular features in global magnetization and magnetic susceptibility that lead to nontrivial corrections to the standard de Haas-van Alphen periods. Additional features due to Zeeman splitting are also reported (such as new energy minima that originate from the interplay of QW, Zeeman and LL Physics) that are possibly useful for the design of quantum devices. A corresponding calculation in a Composite Fermion picture leads to new predictions on magnetic response properties of a fully-interacting electron liquid in a finite-width interface. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.