Experiments with Electrons on Helium

私家侦探提出了探索性的实验，使用一个新的， 潜在的非常强大的测量技术，以阐明 宏观量子隧穿现象 许多人的作用- 身体效应和外部磁场的影响将 被探索。 待研究的系统包括一层悬浮的电子 在液态氦的表面上。 适度的电场 垂直施加到电子片上形成能量 使电子处于亚稳态的势垒， 它可以通过激活越过势垒或通过隧穿 通过它。广泛的控制实验 这里可用的参数使其成为理想的系统， study. 为了监测隧道速率，一些新技术将 可以直接测量电子温度 和密度，以及外部扰动，如电 场和激发的He表面（“ripplons”）。

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").