SGER: Photon-Assisted Quantum Transport in Quantum Point Contacts

1988年发现，通过量子点的电导是量子电导2e2/h的倍数。这种量子行为可能对下一代电子器件的发展产生重要影响。本课题的重点是研究远红外光子与电子在量子点接触中的相互作用。预计这种电导可以通过小幅度的远红外辐射来调制。通过吸收光子，电子可以将其能量提高到量子点接触的子带水平以上，并有助于传导。这种效应类似于超导隧道结中的光子辅助隧穿。本研究结果将大大提高我们对量子输运现象以及量子输运过程中电子与光子相互作用的认识。如果这种效应在实验上得到验证，那么新型的长波光电器件，如光控开关和调制器、光子探测器和外差混频器，就可以被构建出来。

The conductance through a quantum point was discovered in 1988 to be a multiple of the quantum conductance 2e2/h. This quantum behavior may have an important impact on the development of future generation of electronic devices. The focus of this project is to study the interaction between far- infrared photons and electrons in quantum point contacts. It is expected that this conductance can be modulated by a small-amplitude far-infrared radiation. By absorbing photons, the electrons can raise their energies to above the level of a subband in the quantum point contact and contribute to conduction. This effect is similar to photon-assisted tunneling in superconducting tunnel junctions. The result of this research may substantially improve our understanding of the quantum transport phenomena, and the interaction between electrons and photons in the quantum transport processes. If the effect is verified experimentally, novel long-wavelength optoelectronic devices, such as optically controlled switches and modulators, photon detectors and heterodyne mixers, can be constructed.