Relaxation and edge reconstruction in integer quantum Hall systems

The interplay between the confinement potential and the electron–electron interactions causes reconstructions of quantum Hall edges. We study the consequences of this edge reconstruction for the relaxation of hot electrons injected into integer quantum Hall edge states. In translationally invariant edges, the relaxation of hot electrons is governed by three-body collisions, which are sensitive to the electron dispersion and thus to reconstruction effects. We show that the relaxation rates are significantly altered in different reconstruction scenarios. (paper)