QUANTUM HALL-EFFECT IN A VORTEX LIQUID

A two-dimensional superconducting film in a magnetic field is considered in the adiabatic limit when vortex dynamics is dominated by the Magnus force. By mapping a vortex liquid state into that of electrons in an effective magnetic field, I find that the Hall conductance is quantized as σxy=(4e2/h) [1+n(2m-1)]/n with n,m1 integers, predicting a fractional quantum Hall effect in a boson system. This phenomenon can also account for observed steps in the magnetization curve of YBa2Cu3O7-δ. The feasibility of a vortex liquid, i.e., melting of a flux lattice at T=0 by quantum fluctuations, is studied. © 1995 The American Physical Society.