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
Danneau R
(2008)
0.7 Structure and zero bias anomaly in ballistic hole quantum wires.
in Physical review letters
Danneau R
(2008)
0.7 Structure and zero bias anomaly in one-dimensional hole systems
in Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures
Chen TM
(2012)
All-electrical injection and detection of a spin-polarized current using 1D conductors.
in Physical review letters
Giblin S
(2010)
An accurate high-speed single-electron quantum dot pump
in New Journal of Physics
Croxall AF
(2008)
Anomalous coulomb drag in electron-hole bilayers.
in Physical review letters
Graham AC
(2008)
Anticrossing of spin-split subbands in quasi-one-dimensional wires.
in Physical review letters
Sfigakis F
(2010)
Benefits of using undoped GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures: A case study of the zero-bias bias anomaly in quantum wires
in Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures
Chen T
(2008)
Bias-controlled spin polarization in quantum wires
in Applied Physics Letters
Keogh J
(2006)
Closely spaced, independently contacted electron-hole bilayers in GaAs-AlGaAs heterostructures
in Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures
Kataoka M
(2009)
Coherent time evolution of a single-electron wave function.
in Physical review letters
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 |