arXiv subjects

Damon J. Carrad

Publications and source records attributed to Damon J. Carrad.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Tomography of Transport Pathways in Selective-Area-Grown Nanowires Using Angle-Resolved Conductance Fluctuations

Understanding the spatial distribution of carriers is important for interpreting transport in nanoscale devices. Here, we apply conductance fluctuation tomography to planar selective-area-grown InAs nanowires in both normal-normal and normal-superconductor device geometries. By tracking the evolution of conductance-interference features as a function of magnetic-field strength and orientation, we extract information about the geometry of phase-coherent transport pathways. Using theory to distinguish between bulk-dominated transport, coherent near-surface transport across facets, and transport confined to individual facets. The measurements are consistent with transport dominated by a near-surface accumulation layer in InAs. Devices with normal contacts show behavior consistent with coherent transport across the nanowire apex, whereas hybrid normal-superconductor devices exhibit signatures of more facet-dependent transport. These results demonstrate how universal conductance fluctuations can be used as a tomographic probe of phase-coherent transport pathways in semiconductor nanostructures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Magnetism and nonlinear charge transport in NiFe2O4/γ-Al2O3/SrTiO3 heterostructure: Toward Spintronic Applications

We present the synthesis and study of the magnetic and electronic properties of NiFe2O4/γ-Al2O3/SrTiO3 heterostructure. The γ-Al2O3/SrTiO3 interface hosts a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) with large spin-orbit coupling, making it promising for spintronics applications if it can be coupled to a suitable source of spin currents. Here, we synthesize a ferrimagnetic insulating NiFe2O4(001) layer on γ-Al2O3(001)/SrTiO3(001) using a low-temperature reactive sputtering at 150 deg C without compromising the mobility and charge carrier density of the 2DEG at the γ-Al2O3(001)/SrTiO3(001) interface. The sheet resistance of both γ-Al2O3/SrTiO3 and NiFe2O4/γ-Al2O3/SrTiO3 exhibits metallic behavior down to cryogenic temperatures, with a low temperature upturn driven by the Kondo-like scattering. Most importantly, NiFe2O4/γ-Al2O3/SrTiO3 behaves as a magnetic diode at low temperatures, and its rectification performance increases significantly with increasing magnetic field strength giving rise to a robust magneto-electronic rectification effect at low temperatures, which provides a first step towards the development of all-oxide heterostructures capable of efficient spin-charge conversion.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Intrinsic Negative-U Centers in Freestanding LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Micro-membranes

The LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) interface hosts a rich range of electronic phenomena, including unconventional electron pairing that in quantum dots gives rise to a negative effective charging energy U. Here, we show freestanding LAO/STO micro-membranes naturally hosting negative-U centers, where lateral confinement arises intrinsically, rather than from engineered nanostructures. These centers coexist with gate-tunable superconductivity and can remain stable upon thermal cycling from millikelvin temperatures to room temperature. Transport is in excellent agreement with calculations based on a negative-U Anderson model, and electrostatic simulations indicate characteristic center sizes of 20-80 nm. Our findings suggest that negative-U centers may arise from the intrinsic interfacial inhomogeneity typical of LAO/STO, and should therefore be considered a general feature of the LAO/STO interface. This could have important consequences for the microwave response of interfacial superconducting devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Cryogenic performance of field-effect transistors and amplifiers based on selective area grown InAs nanowires

Indium-Arsenide (InAs) nanowire field-effect transistors (NWFETs) are promising platforms for high-speed, low-power nanoelectronics operating at cryogenic conditions, relevant for quantum information processing. We use selective area growth (SAG) of nanowires to realize scalable and planar nanowire device geometries that are compatible with standard semiconductor processing techniques. NWFETs are fabricated and their low temperature characteristics - including ION/IOFF ratios, threshold voltages, sub-threshold slope, interfacial trap density, hysteresis, and mobility - are characterized. The NWFETs operate effectively in integrated circuitry relying on saturation-mode operation. In sub-threshold applications such as amplifiers, we find bandwidths exceeding our cryostat wiring, but the gate hysteresis presents challenges for precise tuning of the amplifier operating point. We discuss the role of crystal imperfections and fabrication processes on the transistor characteristics and propose strategies for further improvements.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Gradient Electronic Landscapes in van der Waals Heterostructures

Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) provide a versatile platform for quantum electronics. Experiments generally require encapsulating graphene within hBN flakes, forming a protective van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure that preserves delicate properties of the embedded crystal. To produce functional devices, heterostructures are typically shaped by electron beam lithography and etching, which has driven progress in 2D materials research. However, patterns are primarily restricted to in-plane geometries such as boxes, holes, and stripes, limiting opportunities for advanced architectures. Here, we use thermal scanning-probe lithography (tSPL) to produce smooth topographic landscapes in vdW heterostructures, controlling the thickness degree of freedom with nanometer precision. We electrically gate a sinusoidal topography to impose an electric-field gradient on the graphene layer to spatially modulate charge-carrier doping. We observe signatures of the landscape in transport measurements-resistance-peak spreading and commensurability oscillations-establishing tSPL for tailoring high-quality quantum electronics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

$μ_\mathrm{2T}(n)$: A Method for Extracting the Density Dependent Mobility in Two-Terminal Nanodevices

Measuring carrier mobility as a function of the carrier density in semiconductors using Hall effect is the gold standard for quantifying scattering mechanisms. However, for nanostructures, the Hall effect is not applicable, and the density dependence of mobility is generally inaccessible, rendering Hall effect measurements impractical. Here, we present $μ_\mathrm{2T}(n)$, a new procedure allowing us to extract the density dependent mobility in two-terminal measured nano scale field effect transistors at zero magnetic field from conventional conductance vs gate voltage measurements. We validate $μ_\mathrm{2T}$ against standard Hall measurements and then apply the procedure to 256 individual two-terminal InAs nanowire FETs, extracting information about the scattering mechanisms. To illustrate its broad utility, we reanalyze published data in which mobility had been treated as density independent. Our method represents a new powerful tool for optimization and development of nanomaterials crucial for a wide range of new technologies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Coexistence of high electron-mobility, unpaired spins, and superconductivity at high carrier density SrTiO$_3$-based interfaces

The $t_{2g}$ band-structure of SrTiO$_3$-based two-dimensional electron gasses (2DEGs), have been found to play a role in features such as the superconducting dome, high-mobility transport, and the magnitude of spin-orbit coupling. This adds to the already very diverse range of phenomena, including magnetism and extreme magnetoresistance, exhibited by this particular material platform. Tuning and/or combining these intriguing attributes could yield significant progress within quantum and spintronics technologies. Doing so demands precise control of the parameters, which requires a better understanding of the factors that affect them. Here we present effects of the $t_{2g}$ band-order inversion, stemming from the growth of spinel-structured $γ$-Al$_2$O$_3$ onto perovskite SrTiO$_3$. Electronic transport measurements show that with LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ as the reference, the carrier density and electron mobility are enhanced, and the sample displays a reshaping of the superconducting dome. Additionally, unpaired spins are evidenced by increasing Anomalous Hall Effect with decreasing temperature, entering the same temperature range as the superconducting transition, and a Kondo-like upturn in the sheet resistance. Finally, it is argued that the high-mobility $d_{xz/yz}$-band is more likely than the $d_{xy}$-band to host the supercurrent.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Statistical Reproducibility of Selective Area Grown InAs Nanowire Devices

New approaches such as selective area growth, where crystal growth is lithographically controlled, allow the integration of bottom-up grown semiconductor nanomaterials in large-scale classical and quantum nanoelectronics. This calls for assessment and optimization of the reproducibility between individual components. We quantify the structural and electronic statistical reproducibility within large arrays of nominally identical selective area growth InAs nanowires. The distribution of structural parameters is acquired through comprehensive atomic force microscopy studies and transmission electron microscopy. These are compared to the statistical distributions of the cryogenic electrical properties of 256 individual SAG nanowire field effect transistors addressed using cryogenic multiplexer circuits. Correlating measurements between successive thermal cycles allows distinguishing between the contributions of surface impurity scattering and fixed structural properties to device reproducibility. The results confirm the potential of SAG nanomaterials, and the methodologies for quantifying statistical metrics are essential for further optimization of reproducibility.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2023

Cryogenic Multiplexing with Bottom-Up Nanowires

Bottom-up grown nanomaterials play an integral role in the development of quantum technologies. Among these, semiconductor nanowires (NWs) are widely used in proof-of-principle experiments, however, difficulties in parallel processing of conventionally-grown NWs makes scalability unfeasible. Here, we harness selective area growth (SAG) to remove this road-block. We demonstrate large scale integrated SAG NW circuits consisting of 512 channel multiplexer/demultiplexer pairs, incorporating thousands of interconnected SAG NWs operating under deep cryogenic conditions. Multiplexers enable a range of new strategies in quantum device research and scaling by increase the device count while limiting the number of connections between room-temperature control electronics and the cryogenic samples. As an example of this potential we perform a statistical characterization of large arrays of identical SAG quantum dots thus establishing the feasibility of applying cross-bar gating strategies for efficient scaling of future SAG quantum circuits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

InAs/MoRe hybrid semiconductor/superconductor nanowire devices

Implementing superconductors capable of proximity-inducing a large energy-gap in semiconductors in the presence of strong magnetic fields is a major goal towards applications of semiconductor/superconductor hybrid materials in future quantum information technologies. Here, we study the performance of devices consisting of InAs nanowires in electrical contact to molybdenum-rhenium (MoRe) superconducting alloys. The MoRe thin films exhibit transition temperatures ~10 K and critical fields exceeding 6 T. Normal/superconductor devices enabled tunnel spectroscopy of the corresponding induced superconductivity, which was maintained up to ~10 K, and MoRe based Josephson devices exhibit supercurrents and multiple Andreev reflections. We determine an induced superconducting gap lower than expected from the transition temperature, and observe gap softening at finite magnetic field. These may be common features for hybrids based on large gap, type-II superconductors. The results encourage further development of MoRe-based hybrids.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Photon assisted tunneling of high order multiple Andreev reflections in epitaxial nanowire Josephson junctions

Semiconductor/superconductor hybrids exhibit a range of phenomena that can be exploited for the study of novel physics and the development of new technologies. Understanding the origin the energy spectrum of such hybrids is therefore a crucial goal. Here, we study Josephson junctions defined by shadow epitaxy on InAsSb/Al nanowires. The devices exhibit gate-tunable supercurrents at low temperatures and multiple Andreev reflections (MARs) at finite voltage bias. Under microwave irradiation, photon assisted tunneling (PAT) of MARs produces characteristic oscillating sidebands at quantized energies, which depend on MAR order, $n$, in agreement with a recently suggested modification of the classical Tien-Gordon equation. The scaling of the quantized energy spacings with microwave frequency provides independent confirmation of the effective charge $ne$ transferred by the $n^\mathrm{th}$ order tunnel process. The measurements suggest PAT as a powerful method for assigning the origin of low energy spectral features in hybrid Josephson devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Doubling the mobility of InAs/InGaAs selective area grown nanowires

Selective area growth (SAG) of nanowires and networks promise a route toward scalable electronics, photonics and quantum devices based on III-V semiconductor materials. The potential of high-mobility SAG nanowires however is not yet fully realized, since interfacial roughness, misfit dislocations at the nanowire/substrate interface and non-uniform composition due to material intermixing all scatter electrons. Here, we explore SAG of highly lattice-mismatched InAs nanowires on insulating GaAs(001) substrates and address these key challenges. Atomically smooth nanowire/substrate interfaces are achieved with the use of atomic hydrogen (a-H) as an alternative to conventional thermal annealing for the native oxide removal. The problem of high lattice mismatch is addressed through an In$_x$Ga$_{1-x}$As buffer layer introduced between the InAs transport channel and the GaAs substrate. The Ga-In material intermixing observed in both the buffer layer and the channel is inhibited via careful tuning of the growth temperature. Performing scanning transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis along with low-temperature transport measurements we show that optimized In-rich buffer layers promote high quality InAs transport channels with the field-effect electron mobility over~10000~cm$^2$V$^{-1}$s$^{-1}$. This is twice as high as for non-optimized samples and among the highest reported for InAs selective area grown nanostructures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Superconductivity and parity preservation in as-grown In islands on InAs nanowires

We report in-situ synthesis of crystalline indium islands on InAs nanowires grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Structural analysis by transmission electron microscopy showed that In crystals grew in a tetragonal body-centred crystal structure within two families of orientations relative to wurtzite InAs. The crystalline islands had lengths < 500 nm and low-energy surfaces, suggesting that growth was driven mainly by surface energy minimization. Electrical transport through In/InAs devices exhibited Cooper pair charging, evidencing charge parity preservation and a pristine In/InAs interface, with an induced superconducting gap ~ 0.45 meV. Cooper pair charging persisted to temperatures > 1.2 K and magnetic fields ~ 0.7 T, demonstrating that In/InAs hybrids belong to an expanding class of semiconductor/superconductor hybrids operating over a wider parameter space than state-of-the-art Al-based hybrids. Engineering crystal morphology while isolating single islands using shadow epitaxy provides an interesting alternative to previous semiconductor/superconductor hybrid morphologies and device geometries.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Andreev interference in the surface accumulation layer of half-shell InAsSb/Al hybrid nanowires

Understanding the spatial distribution of charge carriers in III-V nanowires proximity coupled to superconductors is important for the design and interpretation of experiments based on hybrid quantum devices. In this letter, the gate-dependent surface accumulation layer of InAsSb/Al nanowires was studied by means of Andreev interference in a parallel magnetic field. Both uniform hybrid nanowires and devices featuring a short Josephson junction fabricated by shadow lithography, exhibited periodic modulation of the switching current. The period corresponds to a flux quantum through the nanowire diameter and is consistent with Andreev bound states occupying a cylindrical surface accumulation layer. The spatial distribution was tunable by a gate potential as expected from electrostatic models.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Shadow epitaxy for in-situ growth of generic semiconductor/superconductor devices

Uniform, defect-free crystal interfaces and surfaces are crucial ingredients for realizing high-performance nanoscale devices. A pertinent example is that advances in gate-tunable and topological superconductivity using semiconductor/superconductor electronic devices are currently built on the hard proximity-induced superconducting gap obtained from epitaxial indium arsenide/aluminium heterostructures. Fabrication of devices requires selective etch processes; these exist only for InAs/Al hybrids, precluding the use of other, potentially superior material combinations. We present a crystal growth platform -- based on three-dimensional structuring of growth substrates -- which enables synthesis of semiconductor nanowire hybrids with in-situ patterned superconductor shells. This platform eliminates the need for etching, thereby enabling full freedom in choice of hybrid constituents. We realise and characterise all the most frequently used architectures in superconducting hybrid devices, finding increased yield and electrostatic stability compared to etched devices, along with evidence of ballistic superconductivity. In addition to aluminium, we present hybrid devices based on tantalum, niobium and vanadium. This is the submitted version of the manuscript. The accepted, peer reviewed version is available from Advanced Materials: http://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201908411 Previous title: Shadow lithography for in-situ growth of generic semiconductor/superconductor devices

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Epitaxial Pb on InAs nanowires

Semiconductor-superconductor hybrids are widely used for realising complex quantum phenomena such as topological superconductivity and spins coupled to Cooper pairs. Accessing exotic regimes at high magnetic fields and increasing operating temperatures beyond the state-of-the-art requires new, epitaxially matched semiconductor-superconductor materials. The challenge is to generate favourable conditions for heterostructure formation between materials with the desired inherent properties. Here, we harness increased knowledge of metal-on-semiconductor growth to develop InAs nanowires with epitaxially matched, single crystal, atomically flat Pb films along the entire nanowire. These highly ordered heterostructures have a critical temperature of 7 K and a superconducting gap of 1.25 meV, which remains hard at 8.5 T, thereby more than doubling the available parameter space. Additionally, InAs/Pb island devics exhibit magnetic field-driven transitions from Cooper pair to single electron charging; a pre-requisite for use in topological quantum computation. Introducing semiconductor-Pb hybrids potentially enables access to entirely new regimes for an array of quantum systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Using polymer electrolyte gates to set-and-freeze threshold voltage and local potential in nanowire-based devices and thermoelectrics

We use the strongly temperature-dependent ionic mobility in polymer electrolytes to 'freeze in' specific ionic charge environments around a nanowire using a local wrap-gate geometry. This enables us to set both the threshold voltage for a conventional doped substrate gate and the local disorder potential at temperatures below 200 Kelvin, which we characterize in detail by combining conductance and thermovoltage measurements with modeling. Our results demonstrate that local polymer electrolyte gates are compatible with nanowire thermoelectrics, where they offer the advantage of a very low thermal conductivity, and hold great potential towards setting the optimal operating point for solid-state cooling applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗