65 research outputs found
Electron-electron interactions in the conductivity of graphene
The effect of electron-electron interaction on the low-temperature
conductivity of graphene is investigated experimentally. Unlike in other
two-dimensional systems, the electron-electron interaction correction in
graphene is sensitive to the details of disorder. A new temperature regime of
the interaction correction is observed where quantum interference is suppressed
by intra-valley scattering. We determine the value of the interaction
parameter, F_0 ~ -0.1, and show that its small value is due to the chiral
nature of interacting electrons.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl
Imaging magnetoelectric subbands in ballistic constrictions
We perform scanning gate experiments on ballistic constrictions in the
presence of small perpendicular magnetic fields. The constrictions form the
entrance and exit of a circular gate-defined ballistic stadium. Close to
constrictions we observe sets of regular fringes creating a checker board
pattern. Inside the stadium conductance fluctuations governed by chaotic
dynamics of electrons are visible. The checker board pattern allows us to
determine the number of transmitted modes in the constrictions forming between
the tip-induced potential and gate-defined geometry. Spatial investigation of
the fringe pattern in a perpendicular magnetic field shows a transition from
electrostatic to magnetic depopulation of magnetoelectric subbands. Classical
and quantum simulations agree well with different aspects of our observations.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure
Scanning-gate-induced effects and spatial mapping of a cavity
Tailored electrostatic potentials are the foundation of scanning gate
microscopy. We present several aspects of the tip-induced potential on the
two-dimensional electron gas. First, we give methods on how to estimate the
size of the tip-induced potential. Then, a ballistic cavity is formed and
studied as a function of the bias-voltage of the metallic top gates and probed
with the tip-induced potential. It is shown how the potential of the cavity
changes by tuning the system to a regime where conductance quantization in the
constrictions formed by the tip and the top gates occurs. This conductance
quantization leads to a unprecedented rich fringe pattern over the entire
structure. Finally, the effect of electrostatic screening of the metallic top
gates is discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
Electron backscattering in a cavity: ballistic and coherent effects
Numerous experimental and theoretical studies have focused on low-dimensional
systems locally perturbed by the biased tip of a scanning force microscope. In
all cases either open or closed weakly gate-tunable nanostructures have been
investigated, such as quantum point contacts, open or closed quantum dots, etc.
We study the behaviour of the conductance of a quantum point contact with a
gradually forming adjacent cavity in series under the influence of a scanning
gate. Here, an initially open quantum point contact system gradually turns into
a closed cavity system. We observe branches and interference fringes known from
quantum point contacts coexisting with irregular conductance fluctuations.
Unlike the branches, the fluctuations cover the entire area of the cavity. In
contrast to previous studies, we observe and investigate branches under the
influence of the confining stadium potential, which is gradually built up. We
find that the branches exist only in the area surrounded by cavity top gates.
As the stadium shrinks, regular fringes originate from tip-induced
constrictions leading to quantized conduction. In addition, we observe arc-like
areas reminiscent of classical electron trajectories in a chaotic cavity. We
also argue that electrons emanating from the quantum point contact spread out
like a fan leaving branch-like regions of enhanced backscattering.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Locally induced quantum interference in scanning gate experiments
We present conductance measurements of a ballistic circular stadium
influenced by a scanning gate. When the tip depletes the electron gas below, we
observe very pronounced and regular fringes covering the entire stadium. The
fringes correspond to transmitted modes in constrictions formed between the
tip-induced potential and the boundaries of the stadium. Moving the tip and
counting the fringes gives us exquisite control over the transmission of these
constrictions. We use this control to form a quantum ring with a specific
number of modes in each arm showing the Aharonov-Bohm effect in low-field
magnetoconductance measurements.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Evidence for spin memory in the electron phase coherence in graphene
We measure the dependence of the conductivity of graphene as a function of
magnetic field, temperature and carrier density and discover a saturation of
the dephasing length at low temperatures that we ascribe to spin memory
effects. Values of the spin coherence length up to eight microns are found to
scale with the mean free path. We consider different origins of this effect and
suggest that it is controlled by resonant states that act as magnetic-like
defects. By varying the level of disorder, we demonstrate that the spin
coherence length can be tuned over an order of magnitude.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Anomalous twin boundaries in two dimensional materials
Twin boundary defects form in virtually all crystalline materials as part of their response to applied deformation or thermal stress. For nearly six decades, graphite has been used as a textbook example of twinning with illustrations showing atomically sharp interfaces between parent and twin. Using state-of-the-art high-resolution annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, we have captured atomic resolution images of graphitic twin boundaries and find that these interfaces are far more complex than previously supposed. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the presence of van der Waals bonding eliminates the requirement for an atomically sharp interface, resulting in long-range bending across multiple unit cells. We show these remarkable structures are common to other van der Waals materials, leading to extraordinary microstructures, Raman-active stacking faults, and sub-surface exfoliation within bulk crystals
Electrically pumped single-defect light emitters in WSe
Recent developments in fabrication of van der Waals heterostructures enable
new type of devices assembled by stacking atomically thin layers of
two-dimensional materials. Using this approach, we fabricate light-emitting
devices based on a monolayer WSe, and also comprising boron nitride
tunnelling barriers and graphene electrodes, and observe sharp luminescence
spectra from individual defects in WSe under both optical and electrical
excitation. This paves the way towards the realization of electrically-pumped
quantum emitters in atomically thin semiconductors. In addition we demonstrate
tuning by more than 1 meV of the emission energy of the defect luminescence by
applying a vertical electric field. This provides an estimate of the permanent
electric dipole created by the corresponding electron-hole pair. The
light-emitting devices investigated in our work can be assembled on a variety
of substrates enabling a route to integration of electrically pumped single
quantum emitters with existing technologies in nano-photonics and
optoelectronics
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