Electron localization function for two-dimensional systems

E. Räsänen, A. Castro, E. K.U. Gross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

The concept of the electron localization function (ELF) is extended to two-dimensional (2D) electron systems. We show that the topological properties of the ELF in two dimensions are considerably simpler than in molecules studied previously. We compute the ELF and demonstrate its usefulness for various physical 2D systems focusing on semiconductor quantum dots that effectively correspond to a confined 2D electron gas. The ELF visualizes the shell structure of harmonic quantum dots and provides insight into electron bonding in quantum-dot molecules. In external magnetic fields, the ELF is found to be a useful measure of vorticity when analyzing the properties of quantum-Hall droplets. We show that the current-dependent term in the ELF expression is important in magnetic fields.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115108
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume77
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 6 Mar 2008

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