Counterflow of Electrons in Two Isolated Quantum Point Contacts

V. S. Khrapai, S. Ludwig, J. P. Kotthaus, H. P. Tranitz, and W. Wegscheider
Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 096803 – Published 31 August 2007

Abstract

We study the interaction between two adjacent but electrically isolated quantum point contacts (QPCs). At high enough source-drain bias on one QPC, the drive QPC, we detect a finite electric current in the second, unbiased, detector QPC. The current generated at the detector QPC always flows in the opposite direction than the current of the drive QPC. The generated current is maximal, if the detector QPC is tuned to a transition region between its quantized conductance plateaus and the drive QPC is almost pinched-off. We interpret this counterflow phenomenon in terms of an asymmetric phonon-induced excitation of electrons in the leads of the detector QPC.

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  • Received 2 April 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.096803

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

V. S. Khrapai1,2, S. Ludwig1, J. P. Kotthaus1, H. P. Tranitz3, and W. Wegscheider3

  • 1Center for NanoScience and Department für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, D-80539 München, Germany
  • 2Institute of Solid State Physics RAS, Chernogolovka, 142432, Russian Federation
  • 3Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany

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Vol. 99, Iss. 9 — 31 August 2007

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