arXiv subjects

E. J. Heller

Publications and source records attributed to E. J. Heller.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Imaging coherent electron wave flow in a two-dimensional electron gas

We measure the energy distribution of electrons passing through a two-dimensional electron gas using a scanning probe microscope. We present direct spatial images of coherent electron wave flow from a quantum point contact formed in a GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron gas using a liquid He cooled SPM. A negative voltage is placed on the tip, which creates a small region of depleted electrons that backscatters electron waves. Oscillating the voltage on the tip and locking into this frequency gives the spatial derivative of electron flow perpendicular to the direction of current flow. We show images of electron flow using this method. By measuring the amount of electrons backscattered as a function of the voltage applied to the tip, the energy distribution of electrons is measured.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

Imaging Coherent Electron Flow

Images of electron flow through a two-dimensional electron gas from a quantum point contact (QPC) can be obtained at liquid He temperatures using scanning probe microscopy (SPM). A negatively charged SPM tip depletes the electron gas immediately below it and decreases the conductance by backscattering electrons. Images of electron flow are obtained by recording the conductance as the tip is scanned over the sample. These images show angular patterns that are characteristic of electron flow through individual modes of the QPC, as well as well-defined branches at longer distances. The addition of a prism formed by a triangular gate bends electron paths as the electron density is reduced under the prism by an applied gate voltage. Under the conditions of the experiment, electron-electron scattering is the dominant inelastic process. By observing how the amplitude of backscattered electrons in images of electron flow decreases with added electron energy, we are able to determine the average length and time necessary for inelastic scattering. A dc voltage Vo applied across the QPC accelerates electrons so that their energy is greater than the Fermi energy before inelastic scattering occurs. The signal is observed to decrease in amplitude and eventually disappear at distances from the QPC that decrease progressively as Vo is increased.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2001

Statistical Distribution of Coulomb Blockade Peak Heights in Adiabatically Pumped Quantum Dots

We study adiabatic quantum pumping in the resonant tunneling regime of a nearly-closed quantum dot, which is coupled to two leads via tunneling barriers. Using small cyclic variations of the tunneling rates of the barriers as the pumping mechanism, a current is obtained which depends sensitively on the system parameters and exhibits peaks due to Coulomb blockade. The distribution of the peak heights is found for temperatures $\Gam \ll k_{B} T \ll Δ$, with $\Gam$ the total decay width into the leads and $Δ$ the single-particle level spacing of the dot, and their average height is predicted to increase by a factor of $\frac{5\sqrt{2}}{18} π\approx 1.2$ upon breaking time-reversal symmetry. This is the pumping analog of the statistical theory of Coulomb blockade conductance peaks.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2001

Quantum Coherence Beyond the Thermal Length

Recent experiments have used scattering to map the flow of electrons in a two-dimensional electron gas. Among other things, the data from these experiments show perseverance of regular interference fringes beyond the kinematic thermal length. These fringes are seen in full quantum-mechanical simulations with thermal averaging, and within the phase coherence length they can also be understood with a simple, single-scattering model. This effect provides a new way to gauge the coherence length independent of thermal broadening. Appealing to higher-order scattering, we present a mechanism by which interference fringes may survive even beyond the phase coherence length.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2001

Mesoscopic scattering in the half-plane: squeezing conductance through a small hole

We model the 2-probe conductance of a quantum point contact (QPC), in linear response. If the QPC is highly non-adiabatic or near to scatterers in the open reservoir regions, then the usual distinction between leads and reservoirs breaks down and a technique based on scattering theory in the full two-dimensional half-plane is more appropriate. Therefore we relate conductance to the transmission cross section for incident plane waves. This is equivalent to the usual Landauer formula using a radial partial-wave basis. We derive the result that an arbitrarily small (tunneling) QPC can reach a p-wave channel conductance of 2e^2/h when coupled to a suitable reflector. If two or more resonances coincide the total conductance can even exceed this. This relates to recent mesoscopic experiments in open geometries. We also discuss reciprocity of conductance, and the possibility of its breakdown in a proposed QPC for atom waves.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2000

Coherent Branched Flow in a Two-Dimensional Electron Gas

Semiconductor nanostructures based on two dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) have the potential to provide new approaches to sensing, information processing, and quantum computation. Much is known about electron transport in 2DEG nanostructures and many remarkable phenomena have been discovered (e.g. weak localization, quantum chaos, universal conductance fluctuations)1,2 - yet a fundamental aspect of these devices, namely how electrons move through them, has never been clarified. Important details about the actual pattern of electron flow are not specified by statistical measures such as the mean free path. Scanned probe microscope (SPM) measurements allow spatial investigations of nanostructures, and it has recently become possible to directly image electron flow through 2DEG devices using newly developed SPM techniques3-13. Here we present SPM images of electron flow from a quantum point contact (QPC) which show unexpected dynamical channeling - the electron flow forms persistent, narrow, branching channels rather than smoothly spreading fans. Theoretical study of this flow, including electron scattering by impurities and donor atoms, shows that the channels are not due to deep valleys in the potential, but rather are caused by the indirect cumulative effect of small angle scattering. Surprisingly, the channels are decorated by interference fringes well beyond where the simplest thermal averaging arguments suggest they should be found. These findings may have important implications for 2DEG physics and for the design of future nanostructure devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2000

Scattering Theory of Kondo Mirages and Observation of Single Kondo Atom Phase Shift

We explain the origin of the Kondo mirage seen in recent quantum corral Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) experiments with a scattering theory of electrons on the surfaces of metals. Our theory combined with experimental data provides the first direct observation of a single Kondo atom phase shift. The Kondo mirage at the empty focus of an elliptical quantum corral is shown to arise from multiple electron bounces off the walls of the corral in a manner analagous to the formation of a real image in optics. We demonstrate our theory with direct quantitive comparision to experimental data.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2000

Scarring Effects on Tunneling in Chaotic Double-Well Potentials

The connection between scarring and tunneling in chaotic double-well potentials is studied in detail through the distribution of level splittings. The mean level splitting is found to have oscillations as a function of energy, as expected if scarring plays a role in determining the size of the splittings, and the spacing between peaks is observed to be periodic of period {$2π\hbar$} in action. Moreover, the size of the oscillations is directly correlated with the strength of scarring. These results are interpreted within the theoretical framework of Creagh and Whelan. The semiclassical limit and finite-{$\hbar$} effects are discussed, and connections are made with reaction rates and resonance widths in metastable wells.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2000

Localization of Eigenfunctions in the Stadium Billiard

We present a systematic survey of scarring and symmetry effects in the stadium billiard. The localization of individual eigenfunctions in Husimi phase space is studied first, and it is demonstrated that on average there is more localization than can be accounted for on the basis of random-matrix theory, even after removal of bouncing-ball states and visible scars. A major point of the paper is that symmetry considerations, including parity and time-reversal symmetries, enter to influence the total amount of localization. The properties of the local density of states spectrum are also investigated, as a function of phase space location. Aside from the bouncing-ball region of phase space, excess localization of the spectrum is found on short periodic orbits and along certain symmetry-related lines; the origin of all these sources of localization is discussed quantitatively and comparison is made with analytical predictions. Scarring is observed to be present in all the energy ranges considered. In light of these results the excess localization in individual eigenstates is interpreted as being primarily due to symmetry effects; another source of excess localization, scarring by multiple unstable periodic orbits, is smaller by a factor of $\sqrt{\hbar}$.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2000

Influence of diffraction on the spectrum and wavefunctions of an open system

In this paper, we demonstrate the existence and significance of diffractive orbits in an open microwave billiard, both experimentally and theoretically. Orbits that diffract off of a sharp edge of the system are found to have a strong influence on the transmission spectrum of the system, especially in the regime where there are no stable classical orbits. On resonance, the wavefunctions are influenced by both classical and diffractive orbits. Off resonance, the wavefunctions are determined by the constructive interference of multiple transient, nonperiodic orbits. Experimental, numerical, and semiclassical results are presented.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv1999

Short-Time Effects on Eigenstate Structure in Sinai Billiards and Related Systems

There is much latitude between the requirements of Schnirelman's theorem regarding the ergodicity of individual high-energy eigenstates of classically chaotic systems on the one hand, and the extreme requirements of random matrix theory on the other. It seems likely that some eigenstate statistics and long-time transport behavior bear nonrandom imprints of the underlying classical dynamics while simultaneously obeying Schnirelman's theorem. Indeed this was shown earlier in the case of systems which approach classical ergodicity slowly, and is also realized in the scarring of eigenstates, even in the $\hbar \to 0$ limit, along unstable periodic orbits and their manifolds. Here we demonstrate the nonrandom character of eigenstates of Sinai-like systems. We show that mixing between channels in Sinai systems is dramatically deficient compared to random matrix theory predictions. The deficit {\it increases} as $|\log \hbar|$ for $\hbar\to 0$, and is due to the vicinity of the measure zero set of orbits which never collide with the Sinai obstruction. Coarse graining to macroscopic scales recovers the Schnirelman result. Three systems are investigated here: a Sinai-type billiard, a quantum map which possesses the essential properties of the Sinai billiard, and a unitary map corresponding to a quasirandom Hamiltonian. Various wavefunction and long-time transport statistics are defined, theoretically investigated, and compared to numerical data.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1999

Diffractive orbits in an open microwave billiard

We demonstrate the existence and significance of diffractive orbits in an open microwave billiard, both experimentally and theoretically. Orbits that diffract off of a sharp edge strongly influence the conduction spectrum of this resonator, especially in the regime where there are no stable classical orbits. On resonance, the wavefunctions are influenced by both classical and diffractive orbits. Off resonance, the wavefunctions are determined by the constructive interference of multiple transient, nonperiodic orbits. Experimental, numerical, and semiclassical results are presented.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1998

Measuring Scars of Periodic Orbits

The phenomenon of periodic orbit scarring of eigenstates of classically chaotic systems is attracting increasing attention. Scarring is one of the most important "corrections" to the ideal random eigenstates suggested by random matrix theory. This paper discusses measures of scars and in so doing also tries to clarify the concepts and effects of eigenfunction scarring. We propose a new, universal scar measure which takes into account an entire periodic orbit and the linearized dynamics in its vicinity. This measure is tuned to pick out those structures which are induced in quantum eigenstates by unstable periodic orbits and their manifolds. It gives enhanced scarring strength as measured by eigenstate overlaps and inverse participation ratios, especially for longer orbits. We also discuss off-resonance scars which appear naturally on either side of an unstable periodic orbit.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1998

Quantizing Constrained Systems: New Perspectives

We consider quantum mechanics on constrained surfaces which have non-Euclidean metrics and variable Gaussian curvature. The old controversy about the ambiguities involving terms in the Hamiltonian of order hbar^2 multiplying the Gaussian curvature is addressed. We set out to clarify the matter by considering constraints to be the limits of large restoring forces as the constraint coordinates deviate from their constrained values. We find additional ambiguous terms of order hbar^2 involving freedom in the constraining potentials, demonstrating that the classical constrained Hamiltonian or Lagrangian cannot uniquely specify the quantization: the ambiguity of directly quantizing a constrained system is inherently unresolvable. However, there is never any problem with a physical quantum system, which cannot have infinite constraint forces and always fluctuates around the mean constraint values. The issue is addressed from the perspectives of adiabatic approximations in quantum mechanics, Feynman path integrals, and semiclassically in terms of adiabatic actions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1998

Weak Quantum Ergodicity

We examine the consequences of classical ergodicity for the localization properties of individual quantum eigenstates in the classical limit. We note that the well known Schnirelman result is a weaker form of quantum ergodicity than the one implied by random matrix theory. This suggests the possibility of systems with non-gaussian random eigenstates which are nonetheless ergodic in the sense of Schnirelman and lead to ergodic transport in the classical limit. These we call "weakly quantum ergodic.'' Indeed for a class of "slow ergodic" classical systems, it is found that each eigenstate becomes localized to an ever decreasing fraction of the available state space, in the semiclassical limit. Nevertheless, each eigenstate in this limit covers phase space evenly on any classical scale, and long-time transport properties betwen individual quantum states remain ergodic due to the diffractive effects which dominate quantum phase space exploration.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1998

Linear and Nonlinear Theory of Eigenfunction Scars

The theory of scarring of eigenfunctions of classically chaotic systems by short periodic orbits is extended in several ways. The influence of short-time linear recurrences on correlations and fluctuations at long times is emphasized. We include the contribution to scarring of nonlinear recurrences associated with homoclinic orbits, and treat the different scenarios of random and nonrandom long-time recurrences. The importance of the local classical structure around the periodic orbit is emphasized, and it is shown for an optimal choice of test basis in phase space, scars must persist in the semiclassical limit. The crucial role of symmetry is also discussed, which together with the nonlinear recurrences gives a much improved account of the actual strength of scars for given classical orbits and in individual wavefunctions. Quantitative measures of scarring are provided and comparisons are made with numerical data.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1998

Overcoming the wall in the semiclassical baker's map

A major barrier in semiclassical calculations is the sheer number of terms that contribute as time increases; for classically chaotic dynamics, the proliferation is exponential. We have been able to overcome this ``exponential wall'' for the baker's map, using an analogy with spin-chain partition functions. The semiclassical sum is contracted so that only of order N T^(3/2) operations are needed for an N-state system evolved for T time steps. This is typically less than the computational load for quantum propagation, T N^2. This method enables us to obtain semiclassical results up to the Heisenberg time, which in our example would have required 10^90 terms if we were to evaluate the sum exactly. This calculation in turn provides new insight as to the accuracy of the semiclassical approximation at long times. The semiclassical result is often correct; its breakdown is nonuniform.

chao-dyn↗