Nonlinear response of 2DEG in the quantum Hall regime

Abstract: Breaking of inversion symmetry leads to nonlinear and nonreciprocal electron transport, in which the voltage response does not invert with the reversal of the current direction. Many systems have incorporated inversion symmetry breaking into their band or crystal structures. In this work, we demonstrate that a conventional two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) system with a back gate shows non-reciprocal behavior (with voltage proportional to current squared) in the quantum Hall regime, which depends on the out-of-plane magnetic field and contact configuration. The inversion symmetry is broken due to the presence of the back gate and magnetic field, and our phenomenological model provides a qualitative explanation of the experimental data. Our results suggest a universal mechanism that gives rise to non-reciprocal behavior in gated samples.