Evidence for an anisotropic state of two-dimensional electrons in high Landau levels

Magnetotransport experiments on high mobility two-dimensional electron gases in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures have revealed striking anomalies near half filling of several spin-resolved yet highly excited, Landau levels. These anomalies include strong anisotropies and nonlinearities of the longitudinal resistivity rho(xx) which commence only below about 150 mK. These phenomena are not seen in the ground state or first excited Landau level but begin abruptly in the third level. Although their origin remains unclear, we speculate that they reflect the spontaneous development of a generic anisotropic many-electron state.