Radiation-induced magnetoresistance oscillation in a two-dimensional electron gas in Faraday geometry

Microwave-radiation induced giant magnetoresistance oscillations recently discovered in high-mobility two-dimensional electron systems in a magnetic field, are analyzed theoretically. Multiphoton-assisted impurity scatterings are shown to be the primary origin of the oscillation. Based on a model which considers the interaction of electrons with the electromagnetic fields in Faraday geometry, we are able not only to reproduce the correct period, phase and the negative resistivity of the main oscillation, but also to obtain secondary peaks and additional maxima and minima in the resistivity curve, some of which were already observed in the experiments.