Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Quantum Nanostructures
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
We are accustomed to the use of electricity in every day life, this is based on the flow of electrons through materials which have a high conductivity such as metals. At low temperatures the laws of quantum mechanics prevail and now an electron does not behave as a particle but rather as a wave, which reflects the probability of finding an electron in a particular place. An entirely new range of phenomena flow from this change in the physics and this is most pronounced in very small devices, called nanostructures. The purpose of this grant is to enable the most advanced nanostructures to be fabricated and new physical phenomena to be sought in them. In addition to the new physics that will be found, new methods of transmitting and handling data will emerge, which will be of great benefit to both existing and future industries yet to be born.
Publications
Astley M
(2006)
Examination of surface acoustic wave reflections by observing acoustoelectric current generation under pulse modulation
in Applied Physics Letters
Astley M
(2006)
Examination of multiply reflected surface acoustic waves by observing acoustoelectric current generation under pulse modulation
in Physical Review B
Astley M
(2008)
Quantized acoustoelectric current in an InGaAs quantum well
in Journal of Applied Physics
Astley M
(2008)
Measurement of Coulomb-energy-dependent tunnelling rates in surface-acoustic-wave-defined dynamic quantum dots
in Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures
Astley MR
(2007)
Energy-dependent tunneling from few-electron dynamic quantum dots.
in Physical review letters
Baenninger M
(2008)
Magnetic-field-induced instabilities in localized two-dimensional electron systems
in Physical Review B
Baenninger M
(2008)
Quantisation of hopping magnetoresistance prefactor in strongly correlated two-dimensional electron systems
in Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures
Blumenthal M
(2007)
Gigahertz quantized charge pumping
in Nature Physics
Chen T
(2008)
Bias-controlled spin polarization in quantum wires
in Applied Physics Letters
Chen T
(2009)
Non-Kondo zero-bias anomaly in quantum wires
in Physical Review B
| Description | The work discovered a number of unexpected features of spin polarisation and difference in energy between the different spin directions. It was found possible to induce a coincidence in energy between the spin directions by means of a magnetic field which produced a number of spin instabilities. We developed an electron pump which delivered a quantised current near nanoamps which is within range of highly accurate measurements of electron charge by standards laboratories. |
| Exploitation Route | Many groups worldwide are using the patterned gate techniques which we developed. The electron pump has been taken up by standards laboratories including NPL with whom we have a good collaboration. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Energy |
| URL | http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/device-rd/cambridge-team-closer-to-working-quantum-computer-2007-04/ |
| Description | Theory of Electron Transport in Semiconductor Nanostructures and Collaborative Experiments |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration and explanation of experiments as well as suggestions of new experiments. These collaborations started before this award but are ongoing and have contributed to the work in the award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Many ideas and experimental contributions. Allocation of a Dilution Refrigerator in Cape Town for the experimental programme. Dr Blumenthal who is now in CapeTown took a Ph.D in Cambridge and was supervised by Pepper, he is now a lecturer there and has allocated a dilution refrigerator to our collaboration on electron pumps. We have an excellent collaboration with the Taiwan group which has provided new insights into spin-orbit coupling. The Bar Ilan and CUNY collaborations are in the area of theory and have produced some important insights into the behaviour of electrons in nanostructures which is continuing. |
| Impact | 4 good publications |
| Description | Theory of Electron Transport in Semiconductor Nanostructures and Collaborative Experiments |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration and explanation of experiments as well as suggestions of new experiments. These collaborations started before this award but are ongoing and have contributed to the work in the award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Many ideas and experimental contributions. Allocation of a Dilution Refrigerator in Cape Town for the experimental programme. Dr Blumenthal who is now in CapeTown took a Ph.D in Cambridge and was supervised by Pepper, he is now a lecturer there and has allocated a dilution refrigerator to our collaboration on electron pumps. We have an excellent collaboration with the Taiwan group which has provided new insights into spin-orbit coupling. The Bar Ilan and CUNY collaborations are in the area of theory and have produced some important insights into the behaviour of electrons in nanostructures which is continuing. |
| Impact | 4 good publications |
| Description | Theory of Electron Transport in Semiconductor Nanostructures and Collaborative Experiments |
| Organisation | University of the Balearic Islands |
| Department | Physics |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration and explanation of experiments as well as suggestions of new experiments. These collaborations started before this award but are ongoing and have contributed to the work in the award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Many ideas and experimental contributions. Allocation of a Dilution Refrigerator in Cape Town for the experimental programme. Dr Blumenthal who is now in CapeTown took a Ph.D in Cambridge and was supervised by Pepper, he is now a lecturer there and has allocated a dilution refrigerator to our collaboration on electron pumps. We have an excellent collaboration with the Taiwan group which has provided new insights into spin-orbit coupling. The Bar Ilan and CUNY collaborations are in the area of theory and have produced some important insights into the behaviour of electrons in nanostructures which is continuing. |
| Impact | 4 good publications |
| Description | Theory of Electron Transport in Semiconductor Nanostructures and Collaborative Experiments |
| Organisation | University of the Balearic Islands |
| Department | Physics |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration and explanation of experiments as well as suggestions of new experiments. These collaborations started before this award but are ongoing and have contributed to the work in the award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Many ideas and experimental contributions. Allocation of a Dilution Refrigerator in Cape Town for the experimental programme. Dr Blumenthal who is now in CapeTown took a Ph.D in Cambridge and was supervised by Pepper, he is now a lecturer there and has allocated a dilution refrigerator to our collaboration on electron pumps. We have an excellent collaboration with the Taiwan group which has provided new insights into spin-orbit coupling. The Bar Ilan and CUNY collaborations are in the area of theory and have produced some important insights into the behaviour of electrons in nanostructures which is continuing. |
| Impact | 4 good publications |