1,551 research outputs found
Quasi-ballistic, nonequilibrium electron distribution in inhomogeneous semiconductor structures
We report on a study of quasi-ballistic transport in deep submicron,
inhomogeneous semiconductor structures, focusing on the analysis of signatures
found in the full nonequilibrium electron distribution. We perform
self-consistent numerical calculations of the Poisson-Boltzmann equations for a
model n(+)-n(-)-n(+) GaAs structure and realistic, energy-dependent scattering.
We show that, in general, the electron distribution displays significant,
temperature dependent broadening and pronounced structure in the high-velocity
tail of the distribution. The observed characteristics have a strong spatial
dependence, related to the energy-dependence of the scattering, and the large
inhomogeneous electric field variations in these systems. We show that in this
quasi-ballistic regime, the high-velocity tail structure is due to pure
ballistic transport, whereas the strong broadening is due to electron
scattering within the channel, and at the source(drain) interfaces.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Landau level mixing by full spin-orbit interactions
We study a two-dimensional electron gas in a perpendicular magnetic field in
the presence of both Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions. Using a
Bogoliubov transformation we are able to write an approximate formula for the
Landau levels, thanks to the simpler form of the resulting Hamiltonian. The
exact numerical calculation of the energy levels, is also made simpler by our
formulation. The approximate formula and the exact numerical results show
excellent agreement for typical semiconductors, especially at high magnetic
fields. We also show how effective Zeeman coupling is modified by spin-orbit
interactions.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Lateral spin-orbit interaction and spin polarization in quantum point contacts
We study ballistic transport through semiconductor quantum point contact
systems under different confinement geometries and applied fields. In
particular, we investigate how the {\em lateral} spin-orbit coupling,
introduced by asymmetric lateral confinement potentials, affects the spin
polarization of the current. We find that even in the absence of external
magnetic fields, a variable {\em non-zero spin polarization} can be obtained by
controlling the asymmetric shape of the confinement potential. These results
suggest a new approach to produce spin polarized electron sources and we study
the dependence of this phenomenon on structural parameters and applied magnetic
fields. This asymmetry-induced polarization provides also a plausible
explanation of our recent observations of a 0.5 conductance plateau (in units
of ) in quantum point contacts made on InAs quantum-well structures.
Although our estimates of the required spin-orbit interaction strength in these
systems do not support this explanation, they likely play a role in the effects
enhanced by electron-electron interactions.Comment: Summited to PRB (2009
Coincident Massless, Minimally Coupled Scalar Correlators on General Cosmological Backgrounds
The coincidence limits of the massless, minimally coupled scalar propagator
and its first two derivatives have great relevance for the project of summing
up the leading logarithms induced by loops of inflationary gravitons. We use
dimensional regularization to derive good analytic approximations for the three
quantities on a general cosmological background geometry which underwent
inflation.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures, uses LaTeX2e, Version 2 revised for publication
with improved figures and length of 34 page
Two-subband quantum Hall effect in parabolic quantum wells
The low-temperature magnetoresistance of parabolic quantum wells displays
pronounced minima between integer filling factors. Concomitantly the Hall
effect exhibits overshoots and plateau-like features next to well-defined
ordinary quantum Hall plateaus. These effects set in with the occupation of the
second subband. We discuss our observations in the context of single-particle
Landau fan charts of a two-subband system empirically extended by a density
dependent subband separation and an enhanced spin-splitting g*.Comment: 5 pages, submitte
Forster energy transfer signatures in optically driven quantum dot molecules
The Forster resonant energy transfer mechanism (FRET) is investigated in
optically driven and electrically gated tunnel coupled quantum dot molecules.
Two novel FRET induced optical signatures are found in the dressed excitonic
spectrum. This is constructed from exciton level occupation as function of pump
laser energy and applied bias, resembling a level anticrossing spectroscopy
measurement. We observe a redistribution of spectral weight and splitting of
the exciton spectral lines. FRET among single excitons induces a splitting in
the spatially-direct exciton lines, away from the anticrossing due to charge
tunneling in the molecule. However, near the anticrossing, a novel signature
appears as a weak satellite line following an indirect exciton line. FRET
signatures may also occur among indirect excitons, appearing as split indirect
lines. In that case, the signatures appear also in the direct biexciton states,
as the indirect satellite mixes in near the tunneling anticrossing region
Spin relaxation rates in quasi-one-dimensional coupled quantum dots
We study theoretically the spin relaxation rate in quasi-one-dimensional
coupled double semiconductor quantum dots. We consider InSb and GaAs-based
systems in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction, which causes
mixing of opposite-spin states, and allows phonon-mediated transitions between
energy eigenstates. Contributions from all phonon modes and coupling mechanisms
in zincblende semiconductors are taken into account. The spin relaxation rate
is shown to display a sharp, cusp-like maximum as function of the
interdot-barrier width, at a value of the width which can be controlled by an
external magnetic field. This remarkable behavior is associated with the
symmetric-antisymmetric level splitting in the structure.Comment: 4 figures, Submitted to Applied Physics Letter
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