Abstract
We have used pulses of nonequilibrium phonons to probe the electron-phonon interaction in a ballistic quantum wire. Phonons incident on the wire caused a decrease in its conductance, due to phonon-induced electron backscattering. We observed giant oscillations in as the wire was narrowed. Maxima occurred when was close to the bottom of any one-dimensional subband. An applied magnetic field broadened and shifted the phonoconductivity oscillations, due to the depopulation of the hybrid electric-magnetic subbands. When the wire was just pinched off, the phonons caused a strong increase in the conductivity due to phonon-assisted transfer of electrons across the potential barrier.
- Received 24 April 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.R16311
©2000 American Physical Society