0000000000462129
AUTHOR
Christoph Leicht
Quantized current source with mesoscopic feedback
We study a mesoscopic circuit of two quantized current sources, realized by nonadiabatic single-electron pumps connected in series with a small micron-sized island in between. We find that quantum transport through the second pump can be locked onto the quantized current of the first one by a feedback due to charging of the mesoscopic island. This is confirmed by a measurement of the charge variation on the island using a nearby charge detector. Finally, the charge feedback signal clearly evidences loading into excited states of the dynamic quantum dot during single-electron pump operation. © 2011 American Physical Society.
Magnetic field enhanced robustness of quantized current plateaus in single and double quantum dot non-adiabatic single charge pumps
We compare the robustness of the quantized current plateaus of semiconductor non-adiabatic quantized charge pumps consisting of a single quantum dot (SQD) and two QDs connected in series (DQD). For the SQD application of a perpendicular magnetic field leads to an enhanced robustness of the first current plateau I = ef, with f the pumping frequency and e the elementary charge. In contrast for the DQD a comparably enhanced robustness of the plateau I = 2ef is found. These findings might allow generation of higher currents without compromising quantization accuracy by optimizing the device geometry.
Non-adiabatic pumping of single electrons affected by magnetic fields
Non-adiabatic pumping of discrete charges, realized by a dynamical quantum dot in an AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure, is studied under influence of a perpendicular magnetic field. Application of an oscillating voltage in the GHz-range to one of two top gates, crossing a narrow wire and confining a quantum dot, leads to quantized pumped current plateaus in the gate characteristics. The regime of pumping one single electron is traced back to the diverse tunneling processes into and out-of the dot. Extending the theory to multiple electrons allows to investigate conveniently the pumping characteristics in an applied magnetic field. In this way, a qualitatively different behavior between pumping ev…