Experiments with Electrons on Helium

P.I.建议进行探索性实验，使用一种新的、可能非常强大的测量技术来解释宏观量子隧道现象。我们将探讨多体效应的作用和外加磁场的影响。要研究的系统由悬浮在液氦表面上方的一层电子组成。垂直于电子片的适度电场形成一个能垒，使电子处于亚稳态，它可以通过激活或通过隧道穿过势垒而逃逸。这里提供的对实验参数的广泛控制使其成为研究的理想系统。为了监测隧穿速率，将尝试一些新技术，允许直接测量电子温度和密度，以及外部扰动，如电场和He表面的激发(“涟漪”)。

The P.I. proposes exploratory experiments, using a new and potentially very powerful measurement technique, to elucidate the phenomenon of macroscopic quantum tunneling. The role of many- body effects and the influence of an external magnetic field will be explored. The system to be studied comprises a layer of electrons suspended above a surface of liquid helium. A modest electric field applied perpendicularly to the electron sheet forms an energy barrier that leaves an electron in a metastable state from which it can escape by activation over the barrier or by tunneling through it. The wide range of control over experimental parameters that is here available makes this an ideal system for study. To monitor the tunneling rates, some new techniques will be tried, allowing direct measurement of the electron temperature and density, and of the external perturbations such as electric field and excitations of the He surface ("ripplons").