| Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 44, Number 3, November I 1998
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 341 - 347 | |
| Section | Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic and optical properties | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i1998-00562-1 | |
| Published online | 01 September 2002 | |
A quantum dot ratchet: Experiment and theory
1
Solid State Physics, Lund University, Box 118 - S-22100 Lund, Sweden
2
Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Received:
12
June
1998
Accepted:
15
September
1998
Particles in a ratchet, that is, a potential without spatial inversion symmetry, can move in one direction even in the absence of macroscopic forces, provided that there is a source of energy. In this paper, a quantum ratchet, based on an asymmetric (triangular) quantum dot, is investigated experimentally and theoretically. We find that coherent electron transport through such a device depends on the sign of the applied voltage. In this way a net current can be obtained even when the applied ac voltage is zero on average. Strikingly, the direction of the current depends on the amplitude at which the quantum dot ratchet is rocked.
PACS: 73.23.Ad – Ballistic transport / 73.50.Fq – High-field and nonlinear effects / 85.30.St – Quantum interference devices
© EDP Sciences, 1998
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