On the nature of the Hall insulator

Abstract We have conducted an experimental study of the linear transport properties of the magnetic-field induced insulating phase which terminates the quantum Hall (QH) series in two dimensional electron systems. We found that a direct and simple relation exists between measurements of the longitudinal resistivity, ϱxx, in this insulating phase and in the neighboring QH phase. In addition, we find that the Hall resistivity, ϱxy, can be quantized in the insulating phase. Our results indicate that a close relation exists between the conduction mechanism in the insulator and in the QH liquid.