arXiv subjects

M. Sassetti

Publications and source records attributed to M. Sassetti.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Correlation functions for the detection of Wigner molecules in a one-channel Luttinger liquid quantum dot

In one-channel, finite-size Luttinger one-dimensional quantum dots, both Friedel oscillations and Wigner correlations induce oscillations in the electron density with the same wavelength, pinned at the same position. Therefore, observing such a property does not provide any hint about the formation of a Wigner molecule when electrons interact strongly and other tools must be employed to assess the formation of such correlated states. We compare here the behavior of three different correlation functions and demonstrate that the integrated two point correlation function, which represents the probability density of finding two particles at a given distance, is the only faithful estimator for the formation of a correlated Wigner molecule.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Functional Integral approach to time-dependent heat exchange in open quantum systems: general method and applications

We establish the path integral approach for the time-dependent heat exchange of an externally driven quantum system coupled to a thermal reservoir. We derive the relevant influence functional and present an exact formal expression for the moment generating functional which carries all statistical properties of the heat exchange process for general linear dissipation. The general method is applied to the time-dependent average heat transfer in the dissipative two-state system. We show that the heat can be written as a convolution integral which involves the population and coherence correlation functions of the two-state system and additional correlations due to a polarization of the reservoir. The corresponding expression can be solved in the weak-damping limit both for white noise and for quantum mechanical coloured noise. The implications of pure quantum effects are discussed. Altogether a complete description of the dynamics of the average heat transfer ranging from the classical regime down to zero temperature is achieved.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Finite frequency noise for Laughlin state investigated by a resonant circuit

We study the finite frequency (F.F.) noise properties of edge states in the Laughlin state. We investigate the model of a resonant detector coupled to a quantum point contact in the weak-backscattering limit. In particular we discuss the impact of possible renormalization of the Luttinger exponent, due to environmental effects, on the measured quantities and we propose a simple way to extract such non-universal parameters from noise measurements.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Heat-exchange statistics in driven open quantum systems

As the dimensions of physical systems approach the nanoscale, the laws of thermodynamics must be reconsidered due to the increased importance of fluctuations and quantum effects. While the statistical mechanics of small classical systems is relatively well understood, the quantum case still poses challenges. Here we set up a formalism that allows to calculate the full probability distribution of energy exchanges between a periodically driven quantum system and a thermalized heat reservoir. The formalism combines Floquet theory with a generalized master equation approach. For a driven two-level system and in the long-time limit, we obtain a universal expression for the distribution, providing clear physical insight into the exchanged energy quanta. We illustrate our approach in two analytically solvable cases and discuss the differences in the corresponding distributions. Our predictions could be directly tested in a variety of systems, including optical cavities and solid-state devices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Multiple quasiparticle Hall spectroscopy investigated with a resonant detector

We investigate the finite frequency (f.f.) noise properties of edge states in the quantum Hall regime. We consider the measurement scheme of a resonant detector coupled to a quantum point contact in the weak-backscattering limit. A detailed analysis of the difference between the "measured" noise, due to the presence of the resonant detector, and the symmetrized f.f. noise is presented. We discuss both the Laughlin and Jain sequences, studying the tunnelling excitations in these hierarchical models. We argue that the measured noise can better distinguish between the different excitations in the tunnelling process with respect to the symmetrized f.f. counterpart in an experimentally relevant range of parameters. Finally, we illustrate the effect of the detector temperature on the sensibility of this measure.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Spin textures of strongly correlated spin Hall quantum dots

We study the spin ordering of a quantum dot defined via magnetic barriers in an interacting quantum spin Hall edge. The spin-resolved density-density correlation functions are computed. We show that strong electron interactions induce a ground state with a highly correlated spin pattern. The crossover from the liquid-type correlations at weak interactions to the ground state spin texture found at strong interactions parallels the formation of a one-dimensional Wigner molecule in an ordinary strongly interacting quantum dot.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Interaction and temperature effects on the pair correlation function of a strongly interacting 1D quantum dot

The pair correlation function of a strongly interacting one-dimensional quantum dot is evaluated analytically within the framework of the spin coherent Luttinger liquid model. The influence of electron interactions and temperature on the competition between finite-size effects and electronic correlations is analyzed, also in the regime of large numbers of particles. The development of Wigner molecule correlations is observed as interactions get stronger. The visibility of such signatures is enhanced for temperatures comparable with the spin excitation energy of the system due to a suppression of the uncorrelated Friedel contribution to the pair correlation function.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Probing Wigner correlations in a suspended carbon nanotube

The influence of the electron-vibron coupling on the transport properties of a strongly interacting quantum dot built in a suspended carbon nanotube is analyzed. The latter is probed by a charged AFM tip scanned along the axis of the CNT which induces oscillations of the chemical potential and of the linear conductance. These oscillations are due to the competition between finite-size effects and the formation of a Wigner molecule for strong interactions. Such oscillations are shown to be suppressed by the electron-vibron coupling. The suppression is more pronounced in the regime of weak Coulomb interactions, which ensures that probing Wigner correlations in such a system is in principle possible.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Temperature-induced emergence of Wigner correlations in a STM-probed one-dimensional quantum dot

The temperature-induced emergence of Wigner correlations over finite-size effects in a strongly interacting one-dimensional quantum dot are studied in the framework of the spin coherent Luttinger liquid. We demonstrate that, for temperatures comparable with the zero mode spin excitations, Friedel oscillations are suppressed by the thermal fluctuations of higher spin modes. On the other hand, the Wigner oscillations, sensitive to the charge mode only, are stable and become more visible. This behavior is proved to be robust both in the thermal electron density and in the linear conductance in the presence of an STM tip. This latter probe is not directly proportional to the electron density and may confirm the above phenomena with complementary and additional information.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Carbon nanotube sensor for vibrating molecules

The transport properties of a CNT capacitively coupled to a molecule vibrating along one of its librational modes are studied and its transport properties analyzed in the presence of an STM tip. We evaluate the linear charge and thermal conductances of the system and its thermopower. They are dominated by position-dependent Franck-Condon factors, governed by a position-dependent effective coupling constant peaked at the molecule position. Both conductance and thermopower allow to extract some information on the position of the molecule along the CNT. Crucially, however, thermopower sheds also light on the vibrational levelspacing, allowing to obtain a more complete characterization of the molecule even in the linear regime.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Theory of the STM detection of Wigner molecules in spin incoherent CNTs

The linear conductance of a carbon nanotube quantum dot in the Wigner molecule regime, coupled to two scanning tunnel microscope tips is inspected. Considering the high temperature regime, the nanotube quantum dot is described by means of the spin-incoherent Luttinger liquid picture. The linear conductance exhibits spatial oscillations induced by the presence of the correlated, molecular electron state. A power-law scaling of the electron density and of the conductance as a function of the interaction parameter are found. They confirm local transport as a sensitive tool to investigate the Wigner molecule. The double-tip setup allows to explore different transport regimes with different shapes of the spatial modulation, all bringing information about the Wigner molecule.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Electrical switching and interferometry of massive Dirac particles in topological insulators constrictions

We investigate the electrical switching of charge and spin transport in a topological insulator nanoconstriction in a four terminal device. The switch of the edge channels is caused by the coupling between edge states which overlap in the constriction and by the tunneling effects at the contacts and therefore can be manipulated by tuning the applied voltages on the split-gate or by geometrical etching. The switching mechanism can be conveniently studied by electron interferometry involving the measurements of the current in different configurations of the side gates, while the applied bias from the external leads can be tuned to obtain pure charge or pure spin currents (charge- and spin- bias configurations). Relevant signatures of quantum confinement effects, quantum size effects and energy gap are evident in the Fabry-Perot physics of the device allowing for a full characterization of the charge and spin currents. The proposed electrical switching behavior offers an efficient tool to manipulate topological edge state transport in a controllable way.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Non-linear Coulomb blockade microscopy of a correlated one-dimensional quantum dot

We evaluate the chemical potential of a one-dimensional quantum dot, coupled to an atomic force microscope tip. The dot is described within the Luttinger liquid framework and the conductance peaks positions as a function of the tip location are calculated in the linear and non-linear transport regimes for an arbitrary number of particles. The differences between the chemical potential oscillations induced by Friedel and Wigner terms are carefully analyzed in the whole range of interaction strength. It is shown that Friedel oscillations, differently from the Wigner ones, are sensitive probes to detect excited spin states and collective spin density waves involved in the transport.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

AFM probe for the signatures of Wigner correlations in the conductance of a one-dimensional quantum dot

The transport properties of an interacting one-dimensional quantum dot capacitively coupled to an atomic force microscope probe are investigated. The dot is described within a Luttinger liquid framework which captures both Friedel and Wigner oscillations. In the linear regime, we demonstrate that both the conductance peak position and height oscillate as the tip is scanned along the dot. A pronounced beating pattern in the conductance maximum is observed, connected to the oscillations of the electron density. Signatures of the effects induced by a Wigner molecule are clearly identified and their stability against the strength of Coulomb interactions are analyzed. While the oscillations of the peak position due to Wigner get enhanced at strong interactions, the peak height modulations are suppressed as interactions grow. Oscillations due to Friedel, on the other hand, are robust against interaction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Finite frequency noise for edge states at filling factor $ν=2/5$

We investigate the properties of the finite frequency noise in a quantum point contact geometry for the fractional quantum Hall state at filling factor $ν=2/5$. The results are obtained in the framework of the Wen's hierarchical model. We show that the peak structure of the colored noise allows to discriminate among different possible excitations involved in the tunneling. In particular, optimal values of voltage and temperature are found in order to enhance the visibility of the peak associated with the tunneling of a 2-agglomerate, namely an excitation with charge double of the fundamental one associated to the single quasiparticle.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Tunneling between helical edge states through extended contacts

We consider a quantum spin Hall system in a two-terminal setup, with an extended tunneling contact connecting upper and lower edges. We analyze the effects of this geometry on the backscattering current as a function of voltage, temperature, and strength of the electron interactions. We find that this configuration may be useful to confirm the helical nature of the edge states and to extract their propagation velocity. By comparing with the usual quantum point contact geometry, we observe that the power-law behaviors predicted for the backscattering current and the linear conductance are recovered for low enough energies, while different power-laws also emerge at higher energies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Environmental induced renormalization effects in quantum Hall edge states

We propose a general mechanism for renormalization of the tunneling exponents in edge states of the fractional quantum Hall effect. Mutual effects of the coupling with out-of-equilibrium 1/f noise and dissipation are considered both for the Laughlin sequence and for composite co- and counter-propagating edge states with Abelian or non-Abelian statistics. For states with counter-propagating modes we demonstrate the robustness of the proposed mechanism in the so called disorder-dominated phase. Prototypes of these states, such as ν=2/3 and ν=5/2, are discussed in detail and the rich phenomenology induced by the presence of a noisy environment is presented. The proposed mechanism justifies the strong renormalizations reported in many experimental observations carried out at low temperatures. We show how environmental effects could affect the relevance of the tunneling excitations, leading to important implications in particular for the ν=5/2 case.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Spectral noise for edge states at filling factor $ν=5/2$

We present a detailed analysis of finite frequency noise for the $ν=5/2$ fractional quantum Hall state in a quantum point contact geometry. The results are obtained within the Pfaffian and anti-Pfaffian models. We show that the behaviour of the coloured noise allows unambigously to discriminate among tunneling excitations with different charges. Optimal values of the external bias are found in order to emphasize the visibility of the noise peak associated with the tunneling of a 2-agglomerate, namely an excitation with charge double of the fundamental one. These correspond to the regime in which the bias is larger than the neutral modes cut-off frequency. The dependence on the temperature is also investigated in order to discriminate between the considered models.

cond-mat.str-el↗