arXiv subjects

M. Hamer

Publications and source records attributed to M. Hamer.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Mapping quantum Hall edge states in graphene by scanning tunneling microscopy

Quantum Hall edge states are the paradigmatic example of the bulk-boundary correspondence. They are prone to intricate reconstructions calling for their detailed investigation at high spatial resolution. Here, we map quantum Hall edge states of monolayer graphene at a magnetic field of 7 T with scanning tunneling microscopy. The graphene sample features a gate-tunable lateral interface between areas of different filling factor. We compare the results with detailed tight-binding calculations quantitatively accounting for the perturbation by the tip-induced quantum dot. We find that the edge state pattern is mapped with little perturbation by adequate choice of gate voltage. We observe extended compressible regions, the antinodal structure of edge states and their meandering along the lateral interface.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Control of electron-electron interaction in graphene by proximity screening

Electron-electron interactions play a critical role in many condensed matter phenomena, and it is tempting to find a way to control them by changing the interactions' strength. One possible approach is to place a studied system in proximity of a metal, which induces additional screening and hence suppresses electron interactions. Here, using devices with atomically-thin gate dielectrics and atomically-flat metallic gates, we measure the electron-electron scattering length in graphene and report qualitative deviations from the standard behavior. The changes induced by screening become important only at gate dielectric thicknesses of a few nm, much smaller than a typical separation between electrons. Our theoretical analysis agrees well with the scattering rates extracted from measurements of electron viscosity in monolayer graphene and of umklapp electron-electron scattering in graphene superlattices. The results provide a guidance for future attempts to achieve proximity screening of many-body phenomena in two-dimensional systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Enhanced superconductivity in few-layer TaS$_2$ due to healing by oxygenation

When approaching the atomically thin limit, defects and disorder play an increasingly important role in the properties of two-dimensional materials. Superconductivity is generally thought to be vulnerable to these effects, but here we demonstrate the contrary in the case of oxygenation of ultrathin tantalum disulfide (TaS$_2$). Our first-principles calculations show that incorporation of oxygen into the TaS$_2$ crystal lattice is energetically favourable and effectively heals sulfur vacancies typically present in these crystals, thus restoring the carrier density to the intrinsic value of TaS$_2$. Strikingly, this leads to a strong enhancement of the electron-phonon coupling, by up to 80% in the highly-oxygenated limit. Using transport measurements on fresh and aged (oxygenated) few-layer TaS$_2$, we found a marked increase of the superconducting critical temperature ($T_{\mathrm{c}}$) upon aging, in agreement with our theory, while concurrent electron microscopy and electron-energy loss spectroscopy confirmed the presence of sulfur vacancies in freshly prepared TaS$_2$ and incorporation of oxygen into the crystal lattice with time. Our work thus reveals the mechanism by which certain atomic-scale defects can be beneficial to superconductivity and opens a new route to engineer $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ in ultrathin materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

High quality factor graphene-based 2D heterostructure mechanical resonator

Ultralight mechanical resonators based on low-dimensional materials are well suited as exceptional transducers of minuscule forces or mass changes. However, the low dimensionality also provides a challenge to minimize resistive losses and heating. Here, we report on a novel approach that aims to combine different 2D materials to tackle this challenge. We fabricated a heterostructure mechanical resonator consisting of few layers of niobium diselenide (NbSe$_2$) encapsulated by two graphene sheets. The hybrid membrane shows high quality factors up to 245'000 at low temperatures, comparable to the best few-layer graphene mechanical resonators. In contrast to few-layer graphene resonators, the device shows reduced electrical losses attributed to the lower resistivity of the NbSe$_2$ layer. The peculiar low temperature dependence of the intrinsic quality factor points to dissipation over two-level systems which in turn relax over the electronic system. Our high sensitivity readout is enabled by coupling the membrane to a superconducting cavity which allows for the integration of the hybrid mechanical resonator as a sensitive and low loss transducer in future quantum circuits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗