Imaging coherent electron flow in a two-dimensional electron gas

R. M. Westervelt; M. A. Topinka; B. J. LeRoy; A. C. Bleszynski; S. E.J. Shaw; E. J. Heller; K. D. Maranowski; A. C. Gossard

doi:10.1016/S1386-9477(02)01050-0

Imaging coherent electron flow in a two-dimensional electron gas

R. M. Westervelt, M. A. Topinka, B. J. LeRoy, A. C. Bleszynski, S. E.J. Shaw, E. J. Heller, K. D. Maranowski, A. C. Gossard

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Images of coherent electron flow through a two-dimensional electron gas in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure from a quantum point contact (QPC) were obtained at liquid He temperatures by using a scanning probe microscope with a charged tip that backscatters electrons. Near the QPC, at distances less than 500 nm, the images show angular lobes of electron flow in patterns determined by the quantum modes of the QPC. At greater distances, narrow branches of electron flow are observed, formed by the cumulative effects of small-angle scattering. In addition, the images show fringes spaced by half the Fermi wavelength, evidence that the electron flow is coherent. These observations agree well with theoretical simulations of electron flow.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	138-140
Number of pages	3
Journal	Physica E: Low-Dimensional Systems and Nanostructures
Volume	18
Issue number	1-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S1386-9477(02)01050-0
State	Published - May 2003
Externally published	Yes
Event	23rd International Conference on Low Temperature Physics - Hiroshima, Japan Duration: Aug 20 2002 → Aug 27 2002

Keywords

Image electron flow
Scanning probe microscopy
Two-dimensional electron gas

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Condensed Matter Physics

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10.1016/S1386-9477(02)01050-0

Cite this

@article{81ec66245fe9465f9428c8b32208097e,

title = "Imaging coherent electron flow in a two-dimensional electron gas",

abstract = "Images of coherent electron flow through a two-dimensional electron gas in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure from a quantum point contact (QPC) were obtained at liquid He temperatures by using a scanning probe microscope with a charged tip that backscatters electrons. Near the QPC, at distances less than 500 nm, the images show angular lobes of electron flow in patterns determined by the quantum modes of the QPC. At greater distances, narrow branches of electron flow are observed, formed by the cumulative effects of small-angle scattering. In addition, the images show fringes spaced by half the Fermi wavelength, evidence that the electron flow is coherent. These observations agree well with theoretical simulations of electron flow.",

keywords = "Image electron flow, Scanning probe microscopy, Two-dimensional electron gas",

author = "Westervelt, {R. M.} and Topinka, {M. A.} and LeRoy, {B. J.} and Bleszynski, {A. C.} and Shaw, {S. E.J.} and Heller, {E. J.} and Maranowski, {K. D.} and Gossard, {A. C.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported in part by ONR grant N00014-95-1-0104 and by NSF grants DMR-98-09363 and PHY-01-17795.; 23rd International Conference on Low Temperature Physics ; Conference date: 20-08-2002 Through 27-08-2002",

year = "2003",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/S1386-9477(02)01050-0",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "18",

pages = "138--140",

journal = "Physica E: Low-Dimensional Systems and Nanostructures",

issn = "1386-9477",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "1-3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Imaging coherent electron flow in a two-dimensional electron gas

AU - Westervelt, R. M.

AU - Topinka, M. A.

AU - LeRoy, B. J.

AU - Bleszynski, A. C.

AU - Shaw, S. E.J.

AU - Heller, E. J.

AU - Maranowski, K. D.

AU - Gossard, A. C.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported in part by ONR grant N00014-95-1-0104 and by NSF grants DMR-98-09363 and PHY-01-17795.

PY - 2003/5

Y1 - 2003/5

N2 - Images of coherent electron flow through a two-dimensional electron gas in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure from a quantum point contact (QPC) were obtained at liquid He temperatures by using a scanning probe microscope with a charged tip that backscatters electrons. Near the QPC, at distances less than 500 nm, the images show angular lobes of electron flow in patterns determined by the quantum modes of the QPC. At greater distances, narrow branches of electron flow are observed, formed by the cumulative effects of small-angle scattering. In addition, the images show fringes spaced by half the Fermi wavelength, evidence that the electron flow is coherent. These observations agree well with theoretical simulations of electron flow.

AB - Images of coherent electron flow through a two-dimensional electron gas in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure from a quantum point contact (QPC) were obtained at liquid He temperatures by using a scanning probe microscope with a charged tip that backscatters electrons. Near the QPC, at distances less than 500 nm, the images show angular lobes of electron flow in patterns determined by the quantum modes of the QPC. At greater distances, narrow branches of electron flow are observed, formed by the cumulative effects of small-angle scattering. In addition, the images show fringes spaced by half the Fermi wavelength, evidence that the electron flow is coherent. These observations agree well with theoretical simulations of electron flow.

KW - Image electron flow

KW - Scanning probe microscopy

KW - Two-dimensional electron gas

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037842144&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037842144&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/S1386-9477(02)01050-0

DO - 10.1016/S1386-9477(02)01050-0

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:0037842144

SN - 1386-9477

VL - 18

SP - 138

EP - 140

JO - Physica E: Low-Dimensional Systems and Nanostructures

JF - Physica E: Low-Dimensional Systems and Nanostructures

IS - 1-3

T2 - 23rd International Conference on Low Temperature Physics

Y2 - 20 August 2002 through 27 August 2002

ER -

Imaging coherent electron flow in a two-dimensional electron gas

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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