Linear polarization dependence of microwave-induced magnetoresistance oscillations in high-mobility two-dimensional systems

We examine the effect of changing the linear polarization angle theta of incident microwaves with respect to the dc current on radiation-induced magnetoresistance oscillations in a two-dimensional (2D) system within the balance-equation formulation of the photon-assisted magnetotransport model, considering the radiative decay as the sole damping mechanism. At an extremum the amplitude of oscillatory magnetoresistance R-xx exhibits a sinusoidal, up to a factor of 5, magnitude variation with rotating the polarization angle theta. The maximal amplitude shows up generally at a nonzero theta, which is dependent upon the extremum in question, the 2D electron setup, the radiation frequency, and the magnetic field orientation. These results provide a natural explanation for the experimental observations by Mani et al. [Phys. Rev. B 84, 085308 (2011)] and Ramanayaka et al. [Phys. Rev. B 85, 205315 (2012)].