Transport of surface states in the bulk quantum Hall effect

The two-dimensional surface of a coupled multilayer integer quantum Hall system consists of an anisotropic chiral metal. This unusual metal is characterized by ballistic motion transverse and diffusive motion parallel ((z) over cap) to the magnetic field. Employing a network model, we calculate numerically the phase coherent two-terminal z-axis conductance and its mesoscopic fluctuations. Quasi-one-dimensional localization effects are evident in the limit of many layers. We consider the role of inelastic dephasing effects in modifying the transport of the chiral surface sheath, discussing their importance in the recent experiments of Druist et al. [S0163-1829(97)04847-9].