Signature of interaction in dc transport of ac-gated quantum spin Hall edge states

Abstract

In the presence of a scattering potential, electron transport in a quantum wire is known to be dramatically modified by backward scattering and unaffected by forward scattering processes. We show that the scenario is quite different in Quantum Spin Hall effect edge states coupled at a constriction. The helical nature of these states leads to the appearance of a forward scattering spin channel that is absent in other Luttinger liquid realizations. Suitably applied ac gate voltages can thus operate on the spin of electrons tunneling across the constriction, and induce in the dc tunneling current a cusp pattern that represents the signature of the edge state electronic interaction.