Quantum theory of quantum Hall smectics

We propose a quantum stripe (smectic) coupled-Luttinger-liquid model for the anisotropic states which occur in two-dimensional electron systems with high-index partial Landau-level filling, nu*=nu-[nu]. Perturbative renormalization-group calculations establish that interaction terms neglected in this model are relevant -probably driving the system into an anisotropic Wigner crystal-but for 0.4 less than or similar to nu*less than or similar to 0.6 only below temperatures which are outside of the experimentally accessible range. We argue that the Hall conductance of the ground state flows toward [nu]e(2)/h and ([nu]+1)e(2)/h, respectively, on the low- and high-filling-factor sides of this range, consistent with recent observations. A semiclassical theory of smectic state transport properties, which incorporates Luttinger-liquid effects in the evaluation of scattering amplitudes, accounts for the magnitude of the dissipative resistivities at nu*=1/2, for their nu* dependence, and for the observation of nonlinearities of opposite sign in easy and hard direction resistivities.