We present a two-dimensional model of noninteracting electrons in an external magnetic field. This model is of common use in the study of the Hall effect. In the classical limit the system is integrable. Nevertheless at the quantum level, the magnetisation as a function of the number of electrons exhibits a chaotic behaviour. The origin of this phenomenon can be traced back to the “quasi-degeneracy” of the energy levels. The susceptibility is, on the contrary, much less sensitive to this quasi-degeneracy and exhibits a more regular behaviour. Interestingly these phenomena show up for electronic densities and system sizes characteristic of mesoscopic systems. It may be therefore possible to observe them in real experiments.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.