Microscopic theory for radiation-induced zero-resistance states in 2D electron systems: Franck-Condon blockade

We present a microscopic model on radiation-induced zero resistance states according to a novel approach: Franck-Condon physics and blockade. Zero resistance states rise up from radiation-induced magnetoresistance oscillations when the light intensity is strong enough. The theory begins with the radiation-driven electron orbit model that proposes an interplay of the swinging nature of the radiation-driven Landau states and the presence of charged impurity scattering. When the intensity of radiation is high enough, the driven-Landau states (vibrational states) involved in the scattering process are spatially far from each other and the corresponding electron wave functions no longer overlap. As a result, a drastic suppression of the scattering probability takes place and current and magnetoresistance exponentially drop. Finally, zero resistance states rise up. This is an application to magnetotransport in two-dimensional electron systems of the Franck-Condon blockade, based on the Franck-Condon physics which in turn stems from molecular vibrational spectroscopy. Published by AIP Publishing