Electron waveguide devices

Abstract

The discovery of electron waveguiding in one-dimensional (1D) semiconductor nanostructures has uncovered a new regime of electron transport with fascinating physics. The device potential of electron waveguides, however, remains largely unexplored. Over the last few years, our interuniversity team has been conducting research on the physics, technology and opportunities for device applications of split-gate AlGaAs/GaAs electron waveguides. We have examined electronic devices based on electron transport, tunneling and interference. Many problems have been identified in transport-type devices, but much more research is required before the engineering potential of tunneling and interference devices is understood. We have also investigated the potential of electron waveguides in photonic applications, with emphasis on far-infrared (or THz) photodetectors. Our research to date has revealed strong photon-induced currents in antenna-coupled electron waveguides that arise from quantum thermopower. Far-infrared photodetectors based on photon-induced quantum transport remain an interesting opportunity for the application of electron waveguides.