One-dimensional plasmons in AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wires

Electronic properties of semiconductor quantum wires for shallow symmetric and asymmetric confinements

Quantum wires (QWs) and quantum point contacts (QPCs) have been realized in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures in which a two-dimensional electron gas resides at the interface between GaAs and AlGaAs layered semiconductors. The electron transport in these structures has previously been studied experimentally and theoretically, and a 0.7 conductance anomaly has been discovered. The present paper is motivated by experiments with a QW in shallow symmetric and asymmetric confinements that have shown additional conductance anomalies at zero magnetic field. The proposed device consists of a QPC that is formed by split gates and a top gate between two large electron reservoirs. This paper is focussed on the theoretical study of electron transport through a wide top-gated QPC in a low-density regime and is based on density functional theory. The electron-electron interaction and shallow confinement make the splitting of the conduction channel into two channels possible. Each of them becomes spin-polarized at certain split and top gates voltages and may contribute to conductance giving rise to additional conductance anomalies. For symmetrically loaded split gates two conduction channels contribute equally to conductance. For the case of asymmetrically applied voltage between split gates conductance anomalies may occur between values of 0.25(2e²/h) and 0.7(2e²/h) depending on the increased asymmetry in split gates voltages. This corresponds to different degrees of spin-polarization in the two conduction channels that contribute differently to conductance. In the case of a strong asymmetry in split gates voltages one channel of conduction is pinched off and just the one remaining channel contributes to conductance. We have found that on the perimeter of the anti-dot there are spin-polarized states. These states may also contribute to conductance if the radius of the anti-dot is small enough and tunneling between these states may occur. The spin-polarized states in the QPC with shallow confinement tuned by electric means may be used for the purposes of quantum technology.

Electromagnetic absorption of semiconductor 2D Majorana nanowires

We calculate the cross section for the electromagnetic absorption of planar 2D Majorana nanowires. The electromagnetic field is described in the dipole approximation. We discuss the signatures on the cross section of a near-zero-energy mode. A low energy peak for transverse polarization, absent in the longitudinal one, reveals the presence of the Majorana-like state. This peak is relatively robust against the thermal smearing of the level occupations. We consider the influence of optical masks hiding parts of the nanowire from the radiation.

Novel relativistic plasma excitations in a gated two-dimensional electron system

The microwave response of a two-dimensional electron system (2DES) covered by a conducting top gate is investigated in the relativistic regime for which the 2D conductivity σ_{2D}>c/2π. Weakly damped plasma waves are excited in the gated region of the 2DES. The frequency and amplitude of the resulting plasma excitations show a very unusual dependence on the magnetic field, conductivity, gate geometry, and separation from the 2DES. We show that such relativistic plasmons survive for temperatures up to 300 K, allowing for new room-temperature microwave and terahertz applications.

Faraday rotation due to excitation of magnetoplasmons in graphene microribbons

A single graphene sheet, when subjected to a perpendicular static magnetic field, provides a Faraday rotation that, per atomic layer, greatly surpasses that of any other known material. In continuous graphene, Faraday rotation originates from the cyclotron resonance of massless carriers, which allows dynamical tuning through either external electrostatic or magneto-static setting. Furthermore, the rotation direction can be controlled by changing the sign of the carriers in graphene, which can be done by means of an external electric field. However, despite these tuning possibilities, the requirement of large magnetic fields hinders the application of the Faraday effect in real devices, especially for frequencies higher than a few terahertz. In this work we demonstrate that large Faraday rotation can be achieved in arrays of graphene microribbons, through the excitation of the magnetoplasmons of individual ribbons, at larger frequencies than those dictated by the cyclotron resonance. In this way, for a given magnetic field and chemical potential, structuring graphene periodically can produce large Faraday rotation at larger frequencies than what would occur in a continuous graphene sheet. Alternatively, at a given frequency, graphene ribbons produce large Faraday rotation at much smaller magnetic fields than in continuous graphene.

The design, fabrication, and photocatalytic utility of nanostructured semiconductors: focus on TiO2-based nanostructures

Recent advances in basic fabrication techniques of TiO2-based nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, nanowires, nanoplatelets, and both physical- and solution-based techniques have been adopted by various research groups around the world. Our research focus has been mainly on various deposition parameters used for fabricating nanostructured materials, including TiO2-organic/inorganic nanocomposite materials. Technically, TiO2 shows relatively high reactivity under ultraviolet light, the energy of which exceeds the band gap of TiO2. The development of photocatalysts exhibiting high reactivity under visible light allows the main part of the solar spectrum to be used. Visible light-activated TiO2 could be prepared by doping or sensitizing. As far as doping of TiO2 is concerned, in obtaining tailored material with improved properties, metal and nonmetal doping has been performed in the context of improved photoactivity. Nonmetal doping seems to be more promising than metal doping. TiO2 represents an effective photocatalyst for water and air purification and for self-cleaning surfaces. Additionally, it can be used as an antibacterial agent because of its strong oxidation activity and superhydrophilicity. Therefore, applications of TiO2 in terms of photocatalytic activities are discussed here. The basic mechanisms of the photoactivities of TiO2 and nanostructures are considered alongside band structure engineering and surface modification in nanostructured TiO2 in the context of doping. The article reviews the basic structural, optical, and electrical properties of TiO2, followed by detailed fabrication techniques of 0-, 1-, and quasi-2-dimensional TiO2 nanomaterials. Applications and future directions of nanostructured TiO2 are considered in the context of various photoinduced phenomena such as hydrogen production, electricity generation via dye-sensitized solar cells, photokilling and self-cleaning effect, photo-oxidation of organic pollutant, wastewater management, and organic synthesis.

Confinement and correlation effects on plasmons in an atom-scale metallic wire

We have studied the effect of confinement and correlations on the plasmon dispersion in an atom-scale metallic wire by determining the electron density response function. The wire electrons are modelled as comprising a quasi-one-dimensional homogeneous gas, with different transverse confinement models. The response function is calculated by including electron correlations beyond the random-phase approximation within the self-consistent mean-field approach of Singwi et al (1968 Phys. Rev. 176 589). The plasmon dispersion results are found to be in very good agreement with the recent electron-energy-loss spectroscopy measurements by Nagao et al (2006 Phys. Rev. Lett. 97 116802). However, our predictions are found to depend strongly on the nature of the confinement model, the structure of the one-dimensional electronic band and the electron effective mass, implying a crucial role for the wire structure.