Surface acoustic wave propagation and inhomogeneities in low-density two-dimensional electron systems near the metal–insulator transition

We have measured the surface acoustic wave velocity shift in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure containing a two-dimensional electron system (2DES) in a low-density regime (<1010 cm−2) at zero magnetic field. The interaction of the surface acoustic wave with the 2DES is not well described by a simple model using low-frequency conductivity measurements. We speculate that this conflict is a result of inhomogeneities in the 2DES, which become very important at low density. This has implications for the putative metal–insulator transition in two dimensions.