Oscillating magnetization of quantum-well electrons in a parallel magnetic field

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Abstract
The magnetization of quasi-two-dimensional electron systems in rectangular quantum wells with magnetic fields parallel to the potential walls is computed from the recently calculated infinite-power-series expansion of the energy eigenvalues. It may be used to determine the band offset. The magnetization oscillates as a function of the chemical potential. This is a consequence of electric and magnetic hybridization of the eigenstates when the cyclotron radius is comparable to the well width. Minima occur whenever the chemical potential crosses the lower edge of a subband. Calculations for a parabolic potential well show the universality of the oscillations in laterally confined systems.