371 research outputs found
The theory of the "0.7 anomaly" in quantum point contacts
The phenomenology of the "0.7 anomaly" in quantum point contacts is fully
explained in terms of a quasi-localized state, which forms as the point contact
opens up. Detailed numerical calculations within spin-density functional theory
indeed con rm the emergence of such a state. Quantitative calculations of the
conductance and the noise are obtained using a model based on these
observations, and are in excellent agreement with existing experimental
observations.Comment: A summary paper, to be included in JPCM Special Issue on 0.7 Featur
Parallel Quantum-Point-Contacts as High-Frequency-Mixers
We present the results of high-frequency mixing experiments performed upon
parallel quantum point-contacts defined in the two-dimensional electron gas of
an Al_{x}Ga_{1-x}As/GaAs-heterostructure. The parallel geometry, fabricated
using a novel double-resist technology, enables the point-contact device to be
impedance matched over a wide frequency range and, in addition, increases the
power levels of the mixing signal while simultaneously reducing the parasitic
source-drain capacitance. Here, we consider two parallel quantum point-contact
devices with 155 and 110 point-contacts respectively; both devices operated
successfully at liquid helium and liquid nitrogen temperatures with a minimal
conversion loss of 13 dB.Comment: 4 figures, RevTeX, to be published in the 16 June 1997 issue of
Applied Physic Letter
Mesoscopic Capacitance Oscillations
We examine oscillations as a function of Fermi energy in the capacitance of a
mesoscopic cavity connected via a single quantum channel to a metallic contact
and capacitively coupled to a back gate. The oscillations depend on the
distribution of single levels in the cavity, the interaction strength and the
transmission probability through the quantum channel. We use a Hartree-Fock
approach to exclude self-interaction. The sample specific capacitance
oscillations are in marked contrast to the charge relaxation resistance, which
together with the capacitance defines the RC-time, and which for spin polarized
electrons is quantized at half a resistance quantum. Both the capacitance
oscillations and the quantized charge relaxation resistance are seen in a
strikingly clear manner in a recent experiment.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure
Mechanism of electron localization in a quantum wire
We show that quasi-bound electron states are formed in a quantum wire as a
result of electron backscattering in the transition regions between the wire
and the electron reservoirs, to which the wire is coupled. The backscattering
mechanism is caused by electron density oscillations arising even in smooth
transitions due to the reflection of electrons not transmitting through the
wire. The quasi-bound states reveal themselves in resonances of the electron
transmission probability through the wire. The calculations were carried out
within the Hartree-Fock approximation using quasiclassic wavefunctions.Comment: 7 pages, IOP style, 4 figures, typos corrected, published versio
On the Magnetic Nature of Quantum Point Contacts
We present results for a model that describes a quantum point contact. We
show how electron-electron correlations, within the unrestricted Hartree-Fock
approximation, generate a magnetic moment in the point contact. Having
characterized the magnetic structure of the contact, we map the problem onto a
simple one-channel model and calculate the temperature dependence of the
conductance for different gate voltages. Our results are in good agreement with
experimental results obtained in GaAs devices and support the idea of Kondo
effect in these systems.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Mechanisms for electron transport in atomic-scale one-dimensional wires: soliton and polaron effects
We study one-electron tunneling through atomic-scale one-dimensional wires in
the presence of coherent electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling. We use a full quantum
model for the e-ph interaction within the wire with open boundary conditions.
We illustrate the mechanisms of transport in the context of molecular wires
subject to boundary conditions imposing the presence of a soliton defect in the
molecule. Competition between polarons and solitons in the coherent transport
is examined. The transport mechanisms proposed are generally applicable to
other one-dimensional nanoscale systems with strong e-ph coupling.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Europhys. Let
Evidence of spontaneous spin polarized transport in magnetic nanowires
The exploitation of the spin in charge-based systems is opening revolutionary
opportunities for device architecture. Surprisingly, room temperature
electrical transport through magnetic nanowires is still an unresolved issue.
Here, we show that ferromagnetic (Co) suspended atom chains spontaneously
display an electron transport of half a conductance quantum, as expected for a
fully polarized conduction channel. Similar behavior has been observed for Pd
(a quasi-magnetic 4d metal) and Pt (a non-magnetic 5d metal). These results
suggest that the nanowire low dimensionality reinforces or induces magnetic
behavior, lifting off spin degeneracy even at room temperature and zero
external magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps fig
Detecting Spin-Polarized Currents in Ballistic Nanostructures
We demonstrate a mesoscopic spin polarizer/analyzer system that allows the
spin polarization of current from a quantum point contact in an in-plane
magnetic field to be measured. A transverse focusing geometry is used to couple
current from an emitter point contact into a collector point contact. At large
in-plane fields, with the point contacts biased to transmit only a single spin
(g < e^2/h), the voltage across the collector depends on the spin polarization
of the current incident on it. Spin polarizations of greater than 80% are found
for both emitter and collector at 300mK and 7T in-plane field.Comment: related papers at http://marcuslab.harvard.ed
Evidence for localization and 0.7 anomaly in hole quantum point contacts
Quantum point contacts implemented in p-type GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures are
investigated by low-temperature electrical conductance spectroscopy
measurements. Besides one-dimensional conductance quantization in units of
a pronounced extra plateau is found at about which
possesses the characteristic properties of the so-called "0.7 anomaly" known
from experiments with n-type samples. The evolution of the 0.7 plateau in high
perpendicular magnetic field reveals the existence of a quasi-localized state
and supports the explanation of the 0.7 anomaly based on self-consistent charge
localization. These observations are robust when lateral electrical fields are
applied which shift the relative position of the electron wavefunction in the
quantum point contact, testifying to the intrinsic nature of the underlying
physics.Comment: 4.2 pages, 3 figure
Electron-phonon scattering in quantum point contacts
We study the negative correction to the quantized value of the
conductance of a quantum point contact due to the backscattering of electrons
by acoustic phonons. The correction shows activated temperature dependence and
also gives rise to a zero-bias anomaly in conductance. Our results are in
qualitative agreement with recent experiments studying the 0.7 feature in the
conductance of quantum point contacts.Comment: 4 pages, no figure
- …