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Direct Measurement of the Spatial Displacement of Bloch‐Oscillating Electrons in Semiconductor Superlattices
Author(s) -
Lyssenko V. G.,
Sudzius M.,
Valusis G.,
Löser F.,
Hasche T.,
Leo K.,
Dignam M. M.,
Köhler K.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3951(199711)204:1<61::aid-pssb61>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - bloch oscillations , physics , wave packet , dipole , condensed matter physics , oscillation (cell signaling) , superlattice , electron , semiconductor , bloch wave , quantum beats , zener diode , quantum , atomic physics , quantum mechanics , chemistry , voltage , biochemistry , resistor
Bloch oscillations in semiconductor superlattices have recently been observed using optical techniques. However, it remained to show that the optically observed quantum beats of the Wannier‐Stark ladder are connected with a true spatial oscillation of the wave packet. We present an experimental technique which measures directly the displacement of the wave packet center‐of‐mass: The oscillating Bloch wave packets create a microscopic dipole moment which can be determined using the shift of the Wannier‐Stark ladder transition energy as a sensitive dipole field detector. We show that the wave packet undergoes harmonic spatial motion in accordance with the predictions of Bloch and Zener.