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M. Pepper

Publications and source records attributed to M. Pepper.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2005

Local transport in a disorder-stabilized correlated insulating phase

We report the experimental realization of a correlated insulating phase in 2D GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures at low electron densities in a limited window of background disorder. This has been achieved at mesoscopic length scales, where the insulating phase is characterized by a universal hopping transport mechanism. Transport in this regime is determined only by the average electron separation, independent of the topology of background disorder. We have discussed this observation in terms of a pinned electron solid ground state, stabilized by mutual interplay of disorder and Coulomb interaction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Conductance quantization and the 0.7x2e2/h conductance anomaly in one-dimensional hole systems

We have studied ballistic transport in a 1D channel formed using surface gate techniques on a back-gated, high-mobility, bilayer 2D hole system. At millikelvin temperatures, robust conductance quantization is observed in the quantum wire formed in the top layer of the bilayer system, without the gate instabilities that have hampered previous studies of 1D hole systems. Using source drain bias spectroscopy, we have measured the 1D subband spacings, which are 5-10 times smaller than in comparable GaAs electron systems, but 2-3 times larger than in previous studies of 1D holes. We also report the first observation of the anomalous conductance plateau at G = 0.7 x 2e2/h in a 1D hole system.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Measurements of Composite Fermion Conductivity Dependence on Carrier Density

We present the first experimental study of the carrier density dependence of the composite fermion conductivity $σ^{CF}_{xx}$ at Landau level filling factors $ν= {1/2}$ and $ν= {3/2}$ in high-quality front-gated GaAs/Al$_{0.33}$Ga$_{0.67}$As heterostructures. Extracting $α$ from the power law ln$(σ^{CF}_{xx}) \propto$ ln$(n_e)^α$ shows that $α\approx 1$. The measured $α \approx 1$ is placed between the predicted value 3/4 in the strong random magnetic field regime, and 3/2 in the weak random magnetic field regime. Comparisons between our results and theory are discussed.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Can the conductance of an adiabatic ballistic constriction be lower than $2e^2/h$?

We have performed four-terminal conductance measurements of a one-dimensional (1D) channel in which it is possible to modulate the potential profile using three overlaying finger gates. In such a 1D ballistic structure we have observed, {\em for the first time,} that the conductance steps show a gradual decrease from $2e^2/h$ to $0.97 \times 2e^2/h$ with increasing negative finger gate voltage in a short, clean 1D constriction. We suggest this phenomenon is due to differing shifts of 1D subbands with changing spilt-gate voltage. Both a simple analytical estimate for an adiabatic constriction and, realistic modeling of the device, give the same magnitude of the conductance decrease as observed in our experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Coulomb-Blockade directional coupler

A tunable directional coupler based on Coulomb Blockade effect is presented. Two electron waveguides are coupled by a quantum dot to an injector waveguide. Electron confinement is obtained by surface Schottky gates on single GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction. Magneto-electrical measurements down to 350 mK are presented and large transconductance oscillations are reported on both outputs up to 4.2 K. Experimental results are interpreted in terms of Coulomb Blockade effect and the relevance of the present design strategy for the implementation of an electronic multiplexer is underlined.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Fano factor reduction on the 0.7 structure in a ballistic one-dimensional wire

We have measured the non-equilibrium current noise in a ballisticone-dimensional wire which exhibits an additional conductanceplateau at $0.7\times2e^2/h$. The Fano factor shows a clearreduction on the 0.7 structure, and eventually vanishes uponapplying a strong parallel magnetic field. These results provideexperimental evidence that the 0.7 structure is associated withtwo conduction channels which have different transmissionprobabilities.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

A dynamic localization of 2D electrons at mesoscopic length scales

We have investigated the local magneto-transport in high-quality 2D electron systems at low carrier densities. The positive magneto-resistance in perpendicular magnetic field in the strongly insulating regime has been measured to evaluate the spatial concentration of localized states within a mesoscopic region of the samples. An independent measurement of the electron density within the same region shows an unexpected correspondence between the density of electrons in the metallic regime and that of the localized states in the insulating phase. We have argued that this correspondence manifests a rigid distribution of electrons at low densities.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Evolution of the bilayer nu = 1 quantum Hall state under charge imbalance

We use high-mobility bilayer hole systems with negligible tunneling to examine how the bilayer nu = 1 quantum Hall state evolves as charge is transferred from one layer to the other at constant total density. We map bilayer nu = 1 state stability versus imbalance for five total densities spanning the range from strongly interlayer coherent to incoherent. We observe competition between single-layer correlations and interlayer coherence. Most significantly, we find that bilayer systems that are incoherent at balance can develop spontaneous interlayer coherence with imbalance, in agreement with recent theoretical predictions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Interaction Correction to the Longitudinal Conductivity and Hall Resistivity in High Quality Two-Dimensional GaAs Electron and Hole Systems

We present a systematic study of the corrections to both the longitudinal conductivity and Hall resistivity due to electron-electron interactions in high quality GaAs systems using the recent theory of Zala et al. [Phys. Rev. B 64, 214204 (2001)]. We demonstrate that the interaction corrections to the longitudinal conductivity and Hall resistivity predicted by the theory are consistent with each other. This suggests that the anomalous metallic drop in resistivity at B=0 is due to interaction effects and supports the theory of Zala et al.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2004

Interactions in high-mobility 2D electron and hole systems

Electron-electron interactions mediated by impurities are studied in several high-mobility two-dimensional (electron and hole) systems where the parameter $k_BTτ/\hbar $ changes from 0.1 to 10 ($τ$ is the momentum relaxation time). This range corresponds to the \textit{intermediate} and \textit {ballistic} regimes where only a few impurities are involved in electron-electron interactions. The interaction correction to the Drude conductivity is detected in the temperature dependence of the resistance and in the magnetoresistance in parallel and perpendicular magnetic fields. The effects are analysed in terms of the recent theories of electron interactions developed for the ballistic regime. It is shown that the character of the fluctuation potential (short-range or long-range) is an important factor in the manifestation of electron-electron interactions in high-mobility 2D systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Non-invasive detection of the evolution of the charge states of a double dot system

Coupled quantum dots are potential candidates for qubit systems in quantum computing. We use a non-invasive voltage probe to study the evolution of a coupled dot system from a situation where the dots are coupled to the leads to a situation where they are isolated from the leads. Our measurements allow us to identify the movement of electrons between the dots and we can also identify the presence of a charge trap in our system by detecting the movement of electrons between the dots and the charge trap. The data also reveals evidence of electrons moving between the dots via excited states of either the single dots or the double dot molecule.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2003

Quantized charge pumping through a quantum dot by surface acoustic waves

We present a realization of quantized charge pumping. A lateral quantum dot is defined by metallic split gates in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure. A surface acoustic wave whose wavelength is twice the dot length is used to pump single electrons through the dot at a frequency f=3GHz. The pumped current shows a regular pattern of quantization at values I=nef over a range of gate voltage and wave amplitude settings. The observed values of n, the number of electrons transported per wave cycle, are determined by the number of electronic states in the quantum dot brought into resonance with the fermi level of the electron reservoirs during the pumping cycle.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2003

Possible evidence of a spontaneous spin-polarization in mesoscopic 2D electron systems

We have experimentally studied the non-equilibrium transport in low-density clean 2D electron systems at mesoscopic length scales. At zero magnetic field (B), a double-peak structure in the non-linear conductance was observed close to the Fermi energy in the localized regime. From the behavior of these peaks at non-zero B, we could associate them to the opposite spin states of the system, indicating a spontaneous spin polarization at B = 0. Detailed temperature and disorder dependence of the structure shows that such a splitting is a ground state property of the low-density 2D systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2003

Interaction Effects at Crossings of Spin-Polarised One-Dimensional Subbands

We report conductance measurements of ballistic one-dimensional (1D) wires defined in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures in an in-plane magnetic field, B. When the Zeeman energy is equal to the 1D subband energy spacing, the spin-split subband N(up-spin) intersects (N+1)(down-spin), where N is the index of the spin-degenerate 1D subband. At the crossing of N=1(up-spin) and N=2(down-spin) subbands, there is a spontaneous splitting giving rise to an additional conductance structure evolving from the 1.5(2e^2/h) plateau. With further increase in B, the structure develops into a plateau and lowers to 2e^2/h. With increasing temperature and magnetic field the structure shows characteristics of the 0.7 structure. Our results suggest that at low densities a spontaneous spin splitting occurs whenever two 1D subbands of opposite spins cross.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2003

Quantized charge transport through a static quantum dot using a surface acoustic wave

We present a detailed study of the surface acoustic wave mediated quantized transport of electrons through a split gate device containing an impurity potential defined quantum dot within the split gate channel. A new regime of quantized transport is observed at low RF powers where the surface acoustic wave amplitude is comparable to the quantum dot charging energy. In this regime resonant transport through the single-electron dot state occurs which we interpret as turnstile-like operation in which the traveling wave amplitude modulates the entrance and exit barriers of the quantum dot in a cyclic fashion at GHz frequencies. For high RF powers, where the amplitude of the surface acoustic wave is much larger than the quantum dot energies, the quantized acoustoelectric current transport shows behavior consistent with previously reported results. However, in this regime, the number of quantized current plateaus observed and the plateau widths are determined by the properties of the quantum dot, demonstrating that the microscopic detail of the potential landscape in the split gate channel has a profound influence on the quantized acoustoelectric current transport.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2002

Effects of accidental microconstriction on the quantized conductance in long wires

We have investigated the conductance of long quantum wires formed in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures. Using realistic fluctuation potentials from donor layers we have simulated numerically the conductance of four different kinds of wires. While ideal wires show perfect quantization, potential fluctuations from random donors may give rise to strong conductance oscillations and degradation of the quantization plateaux. Statistically there is always the possibility of having large fluctuations in a sample that may effectively act as a microconstriction. We therefore introduce microconstrictions in the wires by occasional clustering of donors. These microconstrictions are found to restore the quantized plateaux. A similar effect is found for accidental lithographic inaccuracies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2002

Coulomb Ordering in Anderson-Localized Electron Systems

We consider an electron system under conditions of strong Anderson localization, taking into account interelectron long-range Coulomb repulsion. We have established that with the electron density going to zero the Coulomb interaction brings the arrangement of the Anderson localized electrons closer and closer to an ideal (Wigner) crystal lattice, provided the temperature is sufficiently low and the dimension of the system is > 1. The ordering occurs despite the fact that a random spread of the energy levels of the localized one-electron states, exceeding the mean Coulomb energy per electron, renders it impossible the electrons to be self-localized due to their mutual Coulomb repulsion This differs principally the Coulomb ordered Anderson localized electron system (COALES) from Wigner crystal, Wigner glass, and any other ordered electron or hole system that results from the Coulomb self-localization of electrons/holes. The residual disorder inherent to COALES is found to bring about a multi-valley ground-state degeneration akin to that in spin glass. With the electron density increasing, COALES is revealed to turn into Wigner glass or a glassy state of a Fermi-glass type depending on the width of the random spread of the electron levels.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗