Mesoscopic Thermovoltage Measurement Design

Quantitative thermoelectric measurements in the mesoscopic regime require accurate knowledge of temperature, thermovoltage, and device energy scales. We consider the effect of a finite load resistance on thermovoltage measurements of InAs/InP heterostructure nanowires. Load resistance and ac attenuation distort the measured thermovoltage therefore complicating the evaluation of device performance. Understanding these effects improves experimental design and data interpretation.Comment: 2 pages, 3 figure

Diffusion Enhancement in a Periodic Potential under High-Frequency Space-Dependent Forcing

We study the long-time behavior of underdamped Brownian particle moving through a viscous medium and in a systematic potential, when it is subjected to a space-dependent high-frequency periodic force. When the frequency is very large, much larger than all other relevant system-frequencies, there is a Kapitsa time-window wherein the effect of frequency dependent forcing can be replaced by a static effective potential. Our new analysis includes the case when the forcing, in addition to being frequency-dependent, is space-dependent as well. The results of the Kapitsa analysis then lead to additional contributions to the effective potential. These are applied to the numerical calculation of the diffusion coefficient (D) for a Brownian particle moving in a periodic potential. Presented are numerical results, which are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions and which indicate a significant enhancement of D due to the space-dependent forcing terms. In addition we study the transport property (current) of underdamped Brownian particles in a ratchet potential.Comment: RevTex 6 pages, 5 figure

Quantum-dot thermometry

We present a method for the measurement of a temperature differential across a single quantum dot that has transmission resonances that are separated in energy by much more than the thermal energy. We determine numerically that the method is accurate to within a few percent across a wide range of parameters. The proposed method measures the temperature of the electrons that enter the quantum dot and will be useful in experiments that aim to test theory which predicts quantum dots are highly-efficient thermoelectrics.Comment: 3 pages, 4 Figure

Signatures of Wigner Localization in Epitaxially Grown Nanowires

It was predicted by Wigner in 1934 that the electron gas will undergo a transition to a crystallized state when its density is very low. Whereas significant progress has been made towards the detection of electronic Wigner states, their clear and direct experimental verification still remains a challenge. Here we address signatures of Wigner molecule formation in the transport properties of InSb nanowire quantum dot systems, where a few electrons may form localized states depending on the size of the dot (i.e. the electron density). By a configuration interaction approach combined with an appropriate transport formalism, we are able to predict the transport properties of these systems, in excellent agreement with experimental data. We identify specific signatures of Wigner state formation, such as the strong suppression of the antiferromagnetic coupling, and are able to detect the onset of Wigner localization, both experimentally and theoretically, by studying different dot sizes.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Symmetry of two terminal, non-linear electric conduction

The well-established symmetry relations for linear transport phenomena can not, in general, be applied in the non-linear regime. Here we propose a set of symmetry relations with respect to bias voltage and magnetic field for the non-linear conductance of two-terminal electric conductors. We experimentally confirm these relations using phase-coherent, semiconductor quantum dots.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Anticipated synchronization in coupled inertia ratchets with time-delayed feedback: a numerical study

We investigate anticipated synchronization between two periodically driven deterministic, dissipative inertia ratchets that are able to exhibit directed transport with a finite velocity. The two ratchets interact through an unidirectional delay coupling: one is acting as a master system while the other one represents the slave system. Each of the two dissipative deterministic ratchets is driven externally by a common periodic force. The delay coupling involves two parameters: the coupling strength and the (positive-valued) delay time. We study the synchronization features for the unbounded, current carrying trajectories of the master and the slave, respectively, for four different strengths of the driving amplitude. These in turn characterize differing phase space dynamics of the transporting ratchet dynamics: regular, intermittent and a chaotic transport regime. We find that the slave ratchet can respond in exactly the same way as the master will respond in the future, thereby anticipating the nonlinear directed transport

A lattice determination of g_A and <x> from overlap fermions

We present results for the nucleon's axial charge g_A and the first moment of the unpolarized parton distribution function from a simulation of quenched overlap fermions.Comment: Talk presented at Lattice2004(chiral), 4 pages, 4 figure

Inhomogeneous soliton ratchets under two ac forces

We extend our previous work on soliton ratchet devices [L. Morales-Molina et al., Eur. Phys. J. B 37, 79 (2004)] to consider the joint effect of two ac forces including non-harmonic drivings, as proposed for particle ratchets by Savele'v et al. [Europhys. Lett. 67}, 179 (2004); Phys. Rev. E {\bf 70} 066109 (2004)]. Current reversals due to the interplay between the phases, frequencies and amplitudes of the harmonics are obtained. An analysis of the effect of the damping coefficient on the dynamics is presented. We show that solitons give rise to non-trivial differences in the phenomenology reported for particle systems that arise from their extended character. A comparison with soliton ratchets in homogeneous systems with biharmonic forces is also presented. This ratchet device may be an ideal candidate for Josephson junction ratchets with intrinsic large damping

Brownian motors: current fluctuations and rectification efficiency

With this work we investigate an often neglected aspect of Brownian motor transport: The r\^{o}le of fluctuations of the noise-induced current and its consequences for the efficiency of rectifying noise. In doing so, we consider a Brownian inertial motor that is driven by an unbiased monochromatic, time-periodic force and thermal noise. Typically, we find that the asymptotic, time- and noise-averaged transport velocities are small, possessing rather broad velocity fluctuations. This implies a corresponding poor performance for the rectification power. However, for tailored profiles of the ratchet potential and appropriate drive parameters, we can identify a drastic enhancement of the rectification efficiency. This regime is marked by persistent, uni-directional motion of the Brownian motor with few back-turns, only. The corresponding asymmetric velocity distribution is then rather narrow, with a support that predominantly favors only one sign for the velocity.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Demon-free quantum Brownian motors

A quantum Smoluchowski equation is put forward that consistently describes thermal quantum states. In particular, it notably does not induce a violation of the second law of thermodynamics. This so modified kinetic equation is applied to study {\it analytically} directed quantum transport at strong friction in arbitrarily shaped ratchet potentials that are driven by nonthermal two-state noise. Depending on the mutual interplay of quantum tunneling and quantum reflection these quantum corrections can induce both, either a sizable enhancement or a suppression of transport. Moreover, the threshold for current reversals becomes markedly shifted due to such quantum fluctuations.Comment: 4 pages 3 figure