Properties of a pinned electron solid on a liquid helium film

The conduction and noise properties of a classical electron solid pinned by variations in the image potential of a glass substrate underneath a helium film supporting the electrons are presented. These properties include a nonlinear resistivity, a frequency-dependent complex impedance, f-α noise and an abrupt increase in broad-band noise when the electron solid becomes depinned. The results of this study are compared with data on quantum electrons solids in heterostructures and MOSFETs. (orig.)