In samples used to maintain the U.S. resistance standard the breakdown of the dissipationless integer quantum Hall effect occurs as a series of dissipative voltage steps. A mechanism for this type of breakdown is proposed, based on the generation of magnetoexcitons when the quantum Hall fluid flows past an ionized impurity above a critical velocity. The calculated generation rate gives a voltage step height in good agreement with measurements on both electron and hole gases. We also compare this model to a hydrodynamic description of breakdown.

• Received 30 January 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.126803