Crossing of the edge channels in the quantum Hall ferromagnet state of Cd(Mn)Te microstructures

In this paper we show that the spatial degeneracy of chiral edge channels, expected for the quantum Hall ferromagnet state, is spontaneously lifted in agreement with theoretical studies performed within the Hartree- Fock approximation. We indicate also that separated edge currents which flow in parallel, may nevertheless cross at certain points, giving rise to the formation of topological defects or one-dimensional magnetic domains. Furthermore, we find that such local crossing of chiral channels can be induced on demand by coupling spin states of a Landau level to different current terminals and applying a DC source-drain voltage.