Anomalous dephasing of two-dimensional electrons in an AlGaAs/GaAs parabolic quantum well structure

Magnetoconductivity measurements are performed on a parabolic quantum well structure. The weak localization effect is observed at a low magnetic field for both single-subband and double-subband occupation regimes. Applying weak-localization theory, we have extracted the dephasing rate. The extracted dephasing rate increases with increasing conductivity in the small-energy-transfer regime and shows a similar trend as the electron density is increased in the large-energy-transfer regime. This is in conflict with Fermi-liquid theory, and cannot be attributed to electron–phonon scattering.

► The weak localization effect is observed for both single-subband and double-subband occupation regimes. ► The extracted dephasing rate is in conflict with Fermi-liquid theory. ► The electron–phonon scattering cannot explain the anomalous electron dephasing.