Abstract
We define a mesoscopic ring in a two-dimensional electron gas interrupted by two tunnel barriers, enabling us to apply a well-defined potential difference between the two halves of the ring. The electron interference in the ring is modified using a perpendicular magnetic field and a bias voltage. We observe clear Aharonov-Bohm oscillations up to the quantum Hall regime as a function of both parameters. The electron travel time between the barriers is found to increase with the applied magnetic field. Introducing a scattering model, we develop a method to measure the nonequilibrium electron dephasing time, which becomes very short at high voltages and magnetic fields. The relevance of electron-electron interactions is discussed.
- Received 13 June 2002
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.67.033307
©2003 American Physical Society