4 research outputs found
Acoustoelectric effect in a finite-length ballistic quantum channel
The dc current induced by a coherent surface acoustic wave (SAW) of wave
vector q in a ballistic channel of length L is calculated. The current contains
two contributions, even and odd in q. The even current exists only in a
asymmetric channel, when the electron reflection coefficients r_1 and r_2 at
both channel ends are different. The direction of the even current does not
depend on the direction of the SAW propagation, but is reversed upon
interchanging r_1 and r_2. The direction of the odd current is correlated with
the direction of the SAW propagation, but is insensitive to the interchange of
r_1 and r_2. It is shown that both contributions to the current are non zero
only when the electron reflection coefficients at the channel ends are energy
dependent. The current exhibits geometric oscillations as function of qL. These
oscillations are the hallmark of the coherence of the SAW and are completely
washed out when the current is induced by a flux of non-coherent phonons. The
results are compared with those obtained previously by different methods and
under different assumptions.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure