Theory of the Breakdown of the Quantum Hall Effect

Breakdown of the Quantum Hall Effect at high values of injected current is explained as a consequence of an abrupt formation of a metallic ``river'' percolating from one edge of the sample to the other. Such river is formed when lakes of compressible liquid, where the long-range disorder potential is screened, get connected with each other due to the strong electric field. Our theory predicts critical currents consistent with experiment values and explains various features of the breakdown.