Premium
Heat flow, transport and fluctuations in etched semiconductor quantum wire structures
Author(s) -
Riha Christian,
Chiatti Olivio,
Buchholz Sven S.,
Reuter Dirk,
Wieck Andreas D.,
Fischer Saskia F.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201532551
Subject(s) - condensed matter physics , quantum wire , quantum point contact , materials science , electron , thermal fluctuations , electric field , heterojunction , thermal equilibrium , noise (video) , semiconductor , quantum , quantum well , optoelectronics , physics , optics , quantum mechanics , laser , artificial intelligence , computer science , image (mathematics)
Low‐dimensional transport in semiconductor meso‐ and nanostructures is a topical field of fundamental research with potential applications in future quantum devices. However, thermal non‐equilibrium may destroy phase‐coherence and remains to be explored experimentally. Here, we present effects of thermal non‐equilibrium in various implementations of low‐dimensional (non‐interacting) electron systems, fabricated by etching AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures. These include narrow quasi‐two‐dimensional (2D) channels, quasi‐one‐dimensional (1D) waveguide networks, quantum rings (QRs), and single 1D constrictions, such as quantum point contacts (QPCs). Thermal non‐equilibrium is realized by current heating. The charge carrier temperature is determined by noise thermometry. The electrical conductance and the voltage–noise are measured with respect to bath temperatures, heating currents, thermal gradients, and electric fields. We determine and discuss heat transport processes, electron‐energy loss rates, and electron–phonon interaction, and our results are consistent with the Wiedemann–Franz relation. Additionally, we show how non‐thermal current fluctuations can be used to identify electric conductance anomalies due to charge states.