Composite-fermion edge states and transport through nanostructures in the fractional quantum Hall regime

A theory of transport through semiconductor nanostructures in the fractional quantum Hall regime is proposed, based on a model of composite-fermion edge states. Adiabatic and nonadiabatic constrictions and constrictions containing artificial impurities are studied as examples. The results obtained, including the temperature-dependent behavior of Aharonov-Bohm resonances in the fractional regime, are in good agreement with experiments. The temperature dependence predicted by the composite fermion theory for features in the two-terminal conductance of both adiabatic constrictions and constrictions with artificial impurities, is close to that expected from ordinary Fermi-liquid phenomenology. However, there are significant differences that should be detectable by careful measurements. Some differences between the present results and those obtained from Luttinger-liquid models are discussed in the context of the available experimental data. {} 1996 The American Physical Society.