arXiv subjects

D. R. Leadley

Publications and source records attributed to D. R. Leadley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2016

Fractional Quantum Hall States in a Ge Quantum Well

Measurements of the Hall and dissipative conductivity of a strained Ge quantum well on a SiGe/(001)Si substrate in the quantum Hall regime are reported. We find quantum Hall states in the Composite Fermion family and a precursor signal at filling fraction $ν=5/2$. We analyse the results in terms of thermally activated quantum tunneling of carriers from one internal edge state to another across saddle points in the long range impurity potential. This shows that the gaps for different filling fractions closely follow the dependence predicted by theory. We also find that the estimates of the separation of the edge states at the saddle are in line with the expectations of an electrostatic model in the lowest spin-polarised Landau level (LL), but not in the spin-reversed LL where the density of quasiparticle states is not high enough to accommodate the carriers required.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Optical Response of Strained- and Unstrained-Silicon Cold-Electron Bolometers

We describe the optical characterisation of two silicon cold-electron bolometers each consisting of a small ($32 \times 14~\mathrm{μm}$) island of degenerately doped silicon with superconducting aluminium contacts. Radiation is coupled into the silicon absorber with a twin-slot antenna designed to couple to 160-GHz radiation through a silicon lens.The first device has a highly doped silicon absorber, the second has a highly doped strained-silicon absorber.Using a novel method of cross-correlating the outputs from two parallel amplifiers, we measure noise-equivalent powers of $3.0 \times 10^{-16}$ and $6.6 \times 10^{-17}~\mathrm{W\,Hz^{-1/2}}$ for the control and strained device, respectively, when observing radiation from a 77-K source. In the case of the strained device, the noise-equivalent power is limited by the photon noise.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2014

A Strained Silicon Cold Electron Bolometer using Schottky Contacts

We describe optical characterisation of a Strained Silicon Cold Electron Bolometer (CEB), operating on a $350~\mathrm{mK}$ stage, designed for absorption of millimetre-wave radiation. The silicon Cold Electron Bolometer utilises Schottky contacts between a superconductor and an n++ doped silicon island to detect changes in the temperature of the charge carriers in the silicon, due to variations in absorbed radiation. By using strained silicon as the absorber, we decrease the electron-phonon coupling in the device and increase the responsivity to incoming power. The strained silicon absorber is coupled to a planar aluminium twin-slot antenna designed to couple to $160~\mathrm{GHz}$ and that serves as the superconducting contacts. From the measured optical responsivity and spectral response, we calculate a maximum optical efficiency of $50~\%$ for radiation coupled into the device by the planar antenna and an overall noise equivalent power (NEP), referred to absorbed optical power, of $1.1 \times 10^{-16}~\mathrm{\mbox{W Hz}^{-1/2}}$ when the detector is observing a $300~\mathrm{K}$ source through a $4~\mathrm{K}$ throughput limiting aperture. Even though this optical system is not optimised we measure a system noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) of $6~\mathrm{\mbox{mK Hz}^{-1/2}}$. We measure the noise of the device using a cross-correlation of time stream data measured simultaneously with two junction field-effect transistor (JFET) amplifiers, with a base correlated noise level of $300~\mathrm{\mbox{pV Hz}^{-1/2}}$ and find that the total noise is consistent with a combination of photon noise, current shot noise and electron-phonon thermal noise.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2014

Observation of microwave-induced resistance oscillations in strained Ge/SiGe quantum wells

Microwave-induced resistance oscillations (MIRO) have been extensively studied for more than a decade but, until now, have remained unique to GaAs/AlGaAs-based 2D electron systems. Here, we report on the first observation of MIRO in a 2D hole gas hosted in Ge/SiGe quantum well. Our findings confirm that MIRO is a universal phenomenon and demonstrate that microwave photoresistance can be utilized to probe the energy spectrum and the correlation effects of 2D holes in Ge/SiGe quantum wells.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Hall field-induced resistance oscillations in Ge/SiGe quantum wells

We report on a magnetotransport study in a high-mobility 2D hole gas hosted in a pure Ge/SiGe quantum well subject to dc electric fields and high frequency microwave radiation. We find that under applied dc bias the differential resistivity exhibits a pronounced maximum at a magnetic field which increases linearly with the applied current. We associate this maximum with the fundamental peak of Hall field-induced resistance oscillations (HIRO) which are known to occur in 2D electron gases in GaAs/AlGaAs systems. After taking into account the Dingle factor correction, we find that the position of the HIRO peak is well described by the hole effective mass $m^\star \approx 0.09\,m_0$, obtained from microwave photoresistance in the same sample.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Optical absorption in highly-strained Ge/SiGe quantum wells: the role of Γ-to-Δ scattering

We report the observation of the quantum-confined Stark effect in Ge/SiGe multiple quantum well heterostructures grown on Si(0.22)Ge(0.78) virtual substrates. The large compressive strain in the Ge quantum well layers caused by the lattice mismatch with the virtual substrate results in a blue shift of the direct absorption edge, as well as a reduction in the Γ-valley scattering lifetime because of strain-induced splittings of the conduction band valleys. We investigate theoretically the Γ-valley carrier lifetimes by evaluating the Γ-to-L and Γ-to-Δ scattering rates in strained Ge/SiGe semiconductor heterostructures. These scattering rates are used to determine the lifetime broadening of excitonic peaks and the indirect absorption in simulated absorption spectra, which are compared with measured absorption spectra for quantum well structures with systematically-varied dimensions. We find that Γ-to-Δ scattering is significant in compressively strained Ge quantum wells and that the Γ-valley electron lifetime is less than 50 fs in the highly-strained structures reported here, where Γ-to-Δ scattering accounted for approximately half of the total scattering rate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Magnetoresistivity in a Tilted Magnetic Field in p-Si/SiGe/Si Heterostructures with an Anisotropic g-Factor: Part II

The magnetoresistance components $ρ_{xx}$ and $ρ_{xy}$ were measured in two p-Si/SiGe/Si quantum wells that have an anisotropic g-factor in a tilted magnetic field as a function of temperature, field and tilt angle. Activation energy measurements demonstrate the existence of a ferromagnetic-paramagnetic (F-P) transition for a sample with a hole density of $p$=2$\times10^{11}$\,cm$^{-2}$. This transition is due to crossing of the 0$\uparrow$ and 1$\downarrow$ Landau levels. However, in another sample, with $p$=7.2$\times10^{10}$\,cm$^{-2}$, the 0$\uparrow$ and 1$\downarrow$ Landau levels coincide for angles $Θ$=0-70$^{\text{o}}$. Only for $Θ$ > 70$^{\text{o}}$ do the levels start to diverge which, in turn, results in the energy gap opening.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Acoustic Studies of AC Conductivity Mechanisms in $n$-GaAs/AlGaAs in the Integer and Fractional Quantum Hall Effect Regime

In case of a of the heterostructure n-GaAs/AlGaAs with sheet density $n=2 \times 10^{11}$cm$^{-2}$ and mobility $μ\approx 2 \times 10^6$ cm$^2$/V$\cdot$s with integer and fractional quantum Hall effect (IQHE and FQHE, respectively) we demonstrate the wide applicability of acoustic methods for determining the general conduction parameters of a two dimensional electron gas. We also examine the mechanisms of low-temperature conductivity in the minima of oscillations of high frequency conductivity in the IQHE and FQHE regimes. In the magnetic field region where electrons are delocalized, the parameters determined by the acoustic technique do not differ from those determined by a direct current. However, the acoustic measurements do not require Hall bars and electrical contacts to be fabricated. In the minima of IQHE and FQHE oscillations electrons are localized, and ac conductivity turns to be via hopping. An analysis of the high frequency conductivity in the QHE regime has been carried out within a "two site" model. Furthermore, measurements of acoustoelectric effects in a tilted magnetic field provided the dependence of the activation energy on magnetic field in the fractional quantum Hall effect regime at $ν$=2/3.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Strain enhanced electron cooling in a degenerately doped semiconductor

Enhanced electron cooling is demonstrated in a strained-silicon/superconductor tunnel junction refrigerator of volume 40 um^3. The electron temperature is reduced from 300 mK to 174 mK, with the enhancement over an unstrained silicon control (300 mK to 258 mK) being attributed to the smaller electron-phonon coupling in the strained case. Modeling and the resulting predictions of silicon-based cooler performance are presented. Further reductions in the minimum temperature are expected if the junction sub-gap leakage and tunnel resistance can be reduced. However, if only tunnel resistance is reduced, Joule heating is predicted to dominate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Strain control of electron-phonon energy loss rate in many-valley semiconductors

We demonstrate significant modification of the electron-phonon energy loss rate in a many-valley semiconductor system due to lattice mismatch induced strain. We show that the thermal conductance from the electron system to the phonon bath in strained n + Si, at phonon temperatures between 200 mK and 450 mK, is more than an order of magnitude lower than that for a similar unstrained sample.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Magnetoresistivity and Acoustoelectronic Effects in a Tilted Magnetic Field in $p$-Si/SiGe/Si Structures with an Anisotropic $g$ Factor

Magnetoresistivity $ρ_{xx}$ and $ρ_{xy}$ and the acoustoelectronic effects are measured in $p$-Si/SiGe/Si with an impurity concentration $p$ = 2 $\times $ 10$^{11}$ cm$^{-2}$ in the temperature range 0.3-2.0 K and an tilted magnetic field up to 18 T. The dependence of the effective $g$-factor on the angle of magnetic field tilt $θ$ to the normal to the plane of a two dimensional $p$-Si/SiGe/Si channel is determined. A first order ferromagnet-paramagnet phase transition is observed in the magnetic fields corresponding to a filling factor $ν$ = 2 at $θ\approx $ 59$^\textrm{o}$-60$^\textrm{o}$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Magnetoresistance in Dilute $p$-Si/SiGe in Parallel and Tilted Magnetic Fields

We report the results of an experimental study of the magnetoresistance $ρ_{xx}$ and $ρ_{xy}$ in two samples of $p$-Si/SiGe with low carrier concentrations $p$=8.2$\times10^{10}$ cm$^{-2}$ and $p$=2$\times10^{11}$ cm$^{-2}$. The research was performed in the temperature range of 0.3-2 K and in the magnetic fields of up to 18 T, parallel or tilted with respect to the two-dimensional (2D) channel plane. The large in-plane magnetoresistance can be explained by the influence of the \textit{in-plane} magnetic field on the orbital motion of the charge carriers in the quasi-2D system. The measurements of $ρ_{xx}$ and $ρ_{xy}$ in the tilted magnetic field showed that the anomaly in $ρ_{xx}$, observed at filling factor $ν$=3/2 is practically nonexistent in the conductivity $σ_{xx}$. The anomaly in $σ_{xx}$ at $ν$=2 might be explained by overlapping of the levels with different spins 0$\uparrow$ and 1$\downarrow$ when the tilt angle of the applied magnetic field is changed. The dependence of g-factor $g^*(Θ)/g^*(0^0)$ on the tilt angle $Θ$ was determined.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Large Magnetoresistance of a Dilute $p$-Si/SiGe/Si Quantum Well in a Parallel Magnetic Field

We report the results of an experimental study of the magnetoresistance $ρ_{xx}$ in two samples of $p$-Si/SiGe/Si with low carrier concentrations $p$=8.2$\times10^{10}$ cm$^{-2}$ and $p$=2$\times10^{11}$ cm$^{-2}$. The research was performed in the temperature range of 0.3-2 K in the magnetic fields of up to 18 T, parallel to the two-dimensional (2D) channel plane at two orientations of the in-plane magnetic field $B_{\parallel}$ against the current $I$: $B_{\parallel} \perp I$ and $B_{\parallel} \parallel I$. In the sample with the lowest density in the magnetic field range of 0-7.2 T the temperature dependence of $ρ_{xx}$ demonstrates the metallic characteristics ($d ρ_{xx}/dT>$0). However, at $B_{\parallel}$ =7.2 T the derivative $d ρ_{xx}/dT$ reverses the sign. Moreover, the resistance depends on the current orientation with respect to the in-plane magnetic field. At $B_{\parallel} \cong$ 13 T there is a transition from the dependence $\ln(Δρ_{xx} / ρ_{0})\propto B_{\parallel}^2$ to the dependence $\ln(Δρ_{xx} / ρ_{0})\propto B_{\parallel}$. The observed effects can be explained by the influence of the in-plane magnetic field on the orbital motion of the charge carriers in the quasi-2D system.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Magnetotransport in low-density $p$-Si/SiGe heterostructures: From metal through hopping insulator to Wigner glass

We study DC and AC transport in low-density $p-$Si/SiGe heterostructures at low temperatures and in a broad domain of magnetic fields up to 18 T. Complex AC conductance is determined from simultaneous measurement of velocity and attenuation of a surface acoustic wave propagating in close vicinity of the 2D hole layer. The observed behaviors of DC and AC conductance are interpreted as an evolution from metallic conductance at B=0 through hopping between localized states in intermediate magnetic fields (close to the plateau of the integer quantum Hall effect corresponding to the Landau-level filling factor $ν$=1) to formation of the Wigner glass in the extreme quantum limit ($B\gtrsim 14$, $T \lesssim 0.8$ K).

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

High-frequency transport in $p$-type Si/Si$_{0.87}$Ge$_{0.13}$ heterostructures studied with surface acoustic waves in the quantum Hall regime

The interaction of surface acoustic waves (SAW) with $p$-type Si/Si$_{0.87}$Ge$_{0.13}$ heterostructures has been studied for SAW frequencies of 30-300 MHz. For temperatures in the range 0.7$<T<$1.6 K and magnetic fields up to 7 T, the SAW attenuation coefficient $Γ$ and velocity change $ΔV /V$ were found to oscillate with filling factor. Both the real $σ_1$ and imaginary $σ_2$ components of the high-frequency conductivity have been determined and compared with quasi-dc magnetoresistance measurements at temperatures down to 33 mK. By analyzing the ratio of $σ_1$ to $σ_2$, carrier localization can be followed as a function of temperature and magnetic field. At $T$=0.7 K, the variations of $Γ$, $ΔV /V$ and $σ_1$ with SAW intensity have been studied and can be explained by heating of the two dimensional hole gas by the SAW electric field. Energy relaxation is found to be dominated by acoustic phonon deformation potential scattering with weak screening.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Surface Acoustic Waves probe of the p-type Si/SiGe heterostructures

The surface acoustic wave (SAWs) attenuation coefficient $Γ$ and the velocity change $ΔV /V$ were measured for $p$-type Si/SiGe heterostructures in the temperature range 0.7 - 1.6 K as a function of external magnetic field $H$ up to 7 T and in the frequency range 30-300 MHz in the hole Si/SiGe heterostructures. Oscillations of $Γ$ (H) and $ΔV /V$ (H) in a magnetic field were observed. Both real $σ_1$ (H) and imaginary $σ_2$ (H) components of the high-frequency conductivity have been determined. Analysis of the $σ_1$ to $σ_2$ ratio allows the carrier localization to be followed as a function of temperature and magnetic field. At T=0.7 K the variation of $Γ$, $ΔV /V$ and $σ_1$ with SAW intensity have been studied and could be attributed to 2DHG heating by the SAW electric field. The energy relaxation time is found to be dominated by scattering at the deformation potential of the acoustic phonons with weak screening.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Application of Bryan's algorithm to the mobility spectrum analysis of semiconductor devices

A powerful method for mobility spectrum analysis is presented, based on Bryan's maximum entropy algorithm. The Bayesian analysis central to Bryan's algorithm ensures that we avoid overfitting of data, resulting in a physically reasonable solution. The algorithm is fast, and allows the analysis of large quantities of data, removing the bias of data selection inherent in all previous techniques. Existing mobility spectrum analysis systems are reviewed, and the performance of the Bryan's Algorithm Mobility Spectrum (BAMS) approach is demonstrated using synthetic data sets. Analysis of experimental data is briefly discussed. We find that BAMS performs well compared to existing mobility spectrum methods.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1998

Searches for Skyrmions in the Limit of Zero g-Factor

Energy gaps have been measured for the ferromagnetic quantum Hall effect states at v=1 and 3 in GaAs/GaAlAs heterojunctions as a function of Zeeman energy, which is reduced to zero by applying hydrostatic pressures of up to 20kbar. At large Zeeman energy the gaps are consistent with spin wave excitations. For a low density sample the gap at v=1 decreases with increasing pressure and reaches a minimum when the g-factor vanishes. At small Zeeman energy the excitation appears to consist of a large number of reversed spins and may be interpreted as a Skyrmion. The data also suggest Skyrmionic excitations take place at v=3. The width of the minimum at v=1 is found to decrease as the g-factor is reduced in a similar way for all samples.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗