Nematic Phase of the Two-Dimensional Electron Gas in a Magnetic Field

The two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in moderate magnetic fields in ultraclean AlAs-GaAs heterojunctions exhibits transport anomalies suggestive of a compressible anisotropic metallic state. Using scaling arguments and Monte Carlo simulations, we develop an order parameter theory of an electron nematic phase. The observed temperature dependence of the resistivity anisotropy behaves like the orientational order parameter if the transition to the nematic state occurs at a finite temperature T_∼ ∼ 65 mK, and is slightly rounded by a small background microscopic anisotropy. We propose a light scattering experiment to measure the critical susceptibility.