Quantum theory of quantum Hall smectics

We propose a quantum stripe (smectic) coupled-Luttinger-liquid model for the anisotropic states which occur in two-dimensional electron systems with high-index partial Landau-level filling, ν*=ν-[ν]. Perturbative renormalization-group calculations establish that interaction terms neglected in this model are relevant ---probably driving the system into an anisotropic Wigner crystal---but for 0.4ν*0.6 only below temperatures which are outside of the experimentally accessible range. We argue that the Hall conductance of the ground state flows toward [ν]e²/h and ([ν]+1)e²/h, respectively, on the low- and high-filling-factor sides of this range, consistent with recent observations. A semiclassical theory of smectic state transport properties, which incorporates Luttinger-liquid effects in the evaluation of scattering amplitudes, accounts for the magnitude of the dissipative resistivities at ν*=1/2, for their ν* dependence, and for the observation of nonlinearities of opposite sign in easy and hard direction resistivities.