Abstract

We report on the first experimental observation of an apparent metal-insulator transition in a two-dimensional electron gas confined in an InAs quantum well. At high densities we find that the carrier mobility is limited by background charged impurities and the temperature dependence of the resistivity shows a metallic behavior with resistivity increasing with increasing temperature. At low densities we find an insulating behavior below a critical density of n(c) = 5 x 10(10) cm(-2) with the resistivity decreasing with increasing temperature. We analyze this transition using a percolation model arising from the failure of screening in random background charged impurities. We also examine the percolation transition experimentally by introducing remote ionized impurities at the surface. Using a bias during cooldown, we modify the screening charge at the surface, which strongly affects the critical density. Our study shows that transition from a metallic to an insulating phase in our system is due to percolation transition.

Publication Details
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2014
Volume
90
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevB.90.161303
Journal
Physical Review B
Contributors