Two-dimensional quantum dots in high magnetic fields: Rotating-electron-molecule versus composite-fermion approach

Exact diagonalization results are reported for the lowest rotational band of N56 electrons in strong magnetic fields in the range of high angular momenta, 70n>1/9). A detailed comparison of energetic, spectral, and transport properties ~specifically, magic angular momenta, radial electron densities, occupation number distributions, overlaps and total energies, and exponents of current-voltage power law! shows that the recently discovered rotating-electron-molecule wave functions @Phys. Rev. B 66, 115315 ~2002!# provide a superior description compared to the compositefermion–Jastrow-Laughlin ones.