TUNNELING ESCAPE TIME OF ELECTRONS THROUGH DOUBLE-BARRIER RESONANT-TUNNELING STRUCTURES

Tunneling escape of electrons from quantum wells (QWs) has systematically been studied in an arbitrarily multilayered heterostructures, both theoretically and experimentally. A wave packet method is developed to calculate the bias dependence of tunneling escape time (TET) in a three-barrier, two-well structure. Moreover, by considering the time variation of the band-edge profile in the escape transient, arising from the decay of injected electrons in QWs, we demonstrate that the actual escape time of certain amount of charge from QWs, instead of single electron, could be much longer than that for a single electron, say, by two orders of magnitude at resonance. The broadening of resonance may also be expected from the same mechanism before invoking various inhomogeneous and homogeneous broadening. To perform a close comparison between theory and experiment, we have developed a new method to measure TET by monitoring transient current response (TCR), stemming from tunneling escape of electrons out of QWs in a similar heterostructure. The time resolution achieved by this new method reaches to several tens ns, nearly three orders of magnitude faster than that by previous transient-capacitance spectroscopy (TCS). The measured TET shows an U-shaped, nonmonotonic dependence on bias, unambiguously indicating resonant tunneling escape of electrons from an emitter well through the DBRTS in the down-stream direction. The minimum value of TET obtained at resonance is accordance with charging effect and its time variation of injected electrons. A close comparison with the theory has been made to imply that the dynamic build-up of electrons in DBRTS might play an important role for a greatly suppressed tunneling escape rate in the vicinity of resonance.

STUDIES ON TUNNELING ESCAPE TIME OF ELECTRONS FROM A QUANTUM-WELL IN MULTILAYERED HETEROSTRUCTURES

By considering the time variation of band-edge profile arising from the decay of injected charge in quantum wells(QWs), we employ a wave packet method to verify that the actual escape time of certain amount of electrons from QWs could be much larger than that for a single electron. The theoretical result is also in agreement with our measurement of escape time, performed by using a newly developed method--transient current response.

Quantum computation using artificial molecules

Two kinds of quantum computation systems using artificial molecules: quantum computer and quantum analog computer are described. The artificial molecule consists of two or three coupled quantum dots stacked along z direction and one single electron, In quantum computer, one-qubit and two-qubit gates are constructed by one molecule and two molecules, respectively. The coupling between two qubits in a quantum gate can be controlled by thin film electrodes. We also constructed a quantum analog computer by designing a three-dot molecule network and mapping a graph 3-colorability problem onto the network. The ground-state configuration of the single electrons in the network corresponds to one of the problem solutions, We numerically study the operations of the two kinds of the quantum computers and demonstrate that they quantum gates can perform the quantum computation and solve complex problems.

Analog computation using quantum-dot cell network

A novel analog-computation system using a quantum-dot cell network is proposed to solve complex problems. Analog computation is a promising method for solving a mathematical problem by using a physical system analogous to the problem. We designed a novel quantum-dot cell consisting of three-stacked. quantum dots and constructed a cell network utilizing the nearest-neighbor interactions between the cells. We then mapped a graph 3-colorability problem onto the network so that the single-electron configuration of the network in the ground state corresponded to one of the solutions. We calculated the ground state of the cell network and found solutions to the problems. The results demonstrate that analog computation is a promising approach for solving complex problems.

Double ionization of helium in collision with 20-500-keV/amu Cq+ and Oq+ (q=1-3) ions

Target ionization and projectile charge changing were investigated for 20-500 keV/u Cq+, Oq++He (q=1-3) collisions. Double- to single-ionization ratios R-21 of helium associated with no projectile charge change (direct ionization), single-electron capture, and single-electron loss were measured. The cross-section ratio R-21 depends strongly on the collision velocity v, the projectile charge state q, and the outgoing reaction channel. Meanwhile, a model extended from our previous work [J. X. Shao, X. M. Chen, and B. W. Ding, Phys. Rev. A 75, 012701 (2007)] is presented to interpret the above-mentioned dependences. Good agreement is found between the model and the experimental data.

Kondo Effect in Carbon Nanotube Quantum Dots with Spin-Orbit Coupling

Motivated by recent experimental observation of spin-orbit coupling in carbon nanotube quantum dots [F. Kuemmeth , Nature (London) 452, 448 (2008)], we investigate in detail its influence on the Kondo effect. The spin-orbit coupling intrinsically lifts out the fourfold degeneracy of a single electron in the dot, thereby breaking the SU(4) symmetry and splitting the Kondo resonance even at zero magnetic field. When the field is applied, the Kondo resonance further splits and exhibits fine multipeak structures resulting from the interplay of spin-orbit coupling and the Zeeman effect. A microscopic cotunneling process for each peak can be uniquely identified. Finally, a purely orbital Kondo effect in the two-electron regime is also predicted.

纳秒激光诱导C60分子碎裂中轻碎片离子C+n(n＜30)的产生机理研究

The time of flight mass spectrometric technique was used to determine the initial mean kinetic energy of small fragment ions C-n(+) (n <= 11) produced from C-60 excited by 532 nm nanosecond laser pulses. The measured kinetic energy shows little variation with the fragment mass and the laser fluence in a broad range. Based on the assumption that C-30(+) is produced predominantly by a single electron emission followed by successive C-2 evaporation from hot C-60 in the nanosecond laser field, the formation of small fragments is interpreted as the complete breakup of the unstable C-30(+) cage structure. The interpretation is consistent with the previously observed results.

Fano effect on shot noise through a Kondo-correlated quantum dot

Transport in a semiopen Kondo- correlated quantum dot is mediated through more than one quantum state. Using the Keldysh technique and the equation of motion method, we study the shot noise S for a wide range of source- drain voltages V-sd within a model incorporating the additional states as a background continuum, demonstrating the importance of the Fano interference. In the absence of the interference, the noise is revealed to be a probe of the second moment of the local density of states, and our theory reproduces the well- known peak structure around the Kondo temperature in the S-V-sd curve. More significantly, it is found that taking account of the background transmission, the voltage dependence of the noise exhibits rich peak- dip line shapes, indicating the presence of the Fano effect. We further demonstrate that due to its two- particle nature, the noise is more sensitive to the quantum interference effect than the simple current.

Investigation of ion-atom collision dynamics through imaging techniques

The principle and technique details of recoil ion momentum imaging are discussed and summarized. The recoil ion momentum spectroscopy built at the Institute of Modern Physics (Lanzhou) is presented. The first results obtained at the setup are analyzed. For 30 keV He2+ on He collision, it is found that the capture of single electron occurs dominantly into the first excited states, and the related scattering angle results show that the ground state capture occurs at large impact parameters, while the capture into excited states occurs at small impact parameters. The results manifest the collision dynamics for the sub-femto-second process can be studied through the techniques uniquely. Finally, the future possibilities of applications of the recoil ion momentum spectroscopy in other fields are outlined.

Slow isocharged sequence ions with helium collisions: Projectile core dependence

The collisions of the isocharged sequence ions of q=6 (C6+, N6+, O6+, F6+, Ne6+, Ar6+, and Ca6+), q=7 (F7+, Ne7+, S7+, Ar7+, and Ca7+), q=8 (F8+, Ne8+, Ar8+, and Ca8+), q=9 (F9+, Ne9+, Si9+, S9+, Ar9+, and Ca9+) and q=11 (Si11+, Ar11+, and Ca11+) with helium at the same velocities were investigated. The cross-section ratios of the double-electron transfer (DET) to the single-electron capture (SEC) sigma(DET)/sigma(SEC) and the true double-electron capture (TDC) to the double-electron transfer sigma(TDC)/sigma(DET) were measured. It shows that for different ions in an isocharged sequence, the experimental cross-section ratio sigma(DET)/sigma(SEC) varies by a factor of 3. The results confirm that the projectile core is another dominant factor besides the charge state and the collision velocity in slow (0.35-0.49v(0); v(0) denotes the Bohr velocity) highly charged ions (HCIs) with helium collisions. The experimental cross-section ratio sigma(DET)/sigma(SEC) is compared with the extended classical over-barrier model (ECBM) [A. Barany , Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B 9, 397 (1985)], the molecular Coulombic barrier model (MCBM) [A. Niehaus, J. Phys. B 19, 2925 (1986)], and the semiempirical scaling laws (SSL) [N. Selberg , Phys. Rev. A 54, 4127 (1996)]. It also shows that the projectile core properties affect the initial capture probabilities as well as the subsequent relaxation of the projectiles. The experimental cross-section ratio sigma(TDC)/sigma(DET) for those lower isocharged sequences is dramatically affected by the projectile core structure, while for those sufficiently highly isocharged sequences, the autoionization always dominates, hence the cross-section ratio sigma(TDC)/sigma(DET) is always small.

Applicability of the reaction window theory

Based on the molecular Coulombic over barrier model for description of slow ion-atom collisions, the reaction window theory related to projectile velocity is presented briefly. According to the theory, the state-selective differential cross sections of single electron capture in O8+ -H, A(8+) -H, Ar8+-He, Ne10+-He and Ar18+-He collisions at different collision velocities are calculated and compared with experimental results. Calculations are also done for single, double, and triple electron capture in N-15(7+)-Ne collisions at fixed velocity of 0.53 a.u., and are compared with experimental data. It is found that the predictions of the final electronic state distribution of captured electron(s) are in agreement with experimental data, and both theory and experiments show that the widths of the reaction window increase with the projectile velocity. The differential cross sections predicted by the theory are larger for smaller Q-values, vice versa, when compared with experimental data.

Effect of alkyl group length on the conductivity in the 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(alkyl-thio)tetraazaporphyrins and redox properties of the metallooctakis(hexyl-thio)tetraazaporphyrins

A series of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(alkyl-thio)tetraazaporphyrins (H(2)OATTAP) with different alkyl chain lengths have been synthesized. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry have been used to investigate the effect of the controlled lengths of the eight peripheral thioether tails on the redox behavior of the molecules. The electrochemical reduction of octakis(hexyl-thio)tetraazaporphyrins, MOHTTAP (where M = Cu, Ni), was studied in 1,2-dichloroethane at a platinum electrode. The Cu derivative was oxidized in one single-electron-transfer step to yield a pi-cation radical and reduced in three single-electron-transfer steps to yield a pi-anion radical, dianion and trianion, respectively. For the Ni derivative, electron transfer reactions involving both the central metal atom and the macrocyclic ring were observed. Electron transfer pathways are proposed based upon voltammetric and in situ spectroelectrochemical results.

Electrochemical and in situ spectroelectrochemical behavior of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(hexyl-thio) tetraazaporphyrin (H(2)OHTTAP) and (Zn(II)OHTTAP)

The characterization of free base porphyrin 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(hexyl-thio) tetraazaporphyrin (H(2)OHTTAP) and its zinc(II) complexes [Zn(II)OHTTAP] containing eight thioether groups at the beta -pyrrole positions of the macrocycle was reported. Results obtained by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry indicated a five-electron reduction in five steps for each complex. They were oxidized in two single-electron-transfer steps to yield pi -cation radicals and dications and reduced in three single-electron-transfer steps to yield pi -anion radicals, dianions and trianions, respectively. The redox property of H(2)OHTTAP was unusual as compared to porphyrins (PPs) and phthalocyanines (Pcs). Each process was monitored by in situ thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry, which indicated that only the Ligand was electroactive. The existence of the eight hexylthio groups was responsible for the intrastack interactions and enhanced intracolumnar and intercolumnar electron motions, resulting in improved conductivity. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Nanoscale electronic properties of conjugated polymers and nanocrystals

The objective of this thesis is the exploration and characterisation of the nanoscale electronic properties of conjugated polymers and nanocrystals. In Chapter 2, the first application of conducting-probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM)-based displacement-voltage (z-V) spectroscopy to local measurement of electronic properties of conjugated polymer thin films is reported. Charge injection thresholds along with corresponding single particle gap and exciton binding energies are determined for a poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] thin film. By performing measurements across a grid of locations on the film, a series of exciton binding energy distributions are identified. The variation in measured exciton binding energies is in contrast to the smoothness of the film suggesting that the variation may be attributable to differences in the nano-environment of the polymer molecules within the film at each measurement location. In Chapter 3, the CP-AFM-based z-V spectroscopy method is extended for the first time to local, room temperature measurements of the Coulomb blockade voltage thresholds arising from sequential single electron charging of 28 kDa Au nanocrystal arrays. The fluid-like properties of the nanocrystal arrays enable reproducible formation of nanoscale probe-array-substrate junctions, allowing the influence of background charge on the electronic properties of the array to be identified. CP-AFM also allows complementary topography and phase data to be acquired before and after spectroscopy measurements, enabling comparison of local array morphology with local measurements of the Coulomb blockade thresholds. In Chapter 4, melt-assisted template wetting is applied for the first time to massively parallel fabrication of poly-(3-hexylthiophene) nanowires. The structural characteristics of the wires are first presented. Two-terminal electrical measurements of individual nanowires, utilising a CP-AFM tip as the source electrode, are then used to obtain the intrinsic nanowire resistivity and the total nanowire-electrode contact resistance subsequently allowing single nanowire hole mobility and mean nanowire-electrode barrier height values to be estimated. In Chapter 5, solution-assisted template wetting is used for fabrication of fluorene-dithiophene co-polymer nanowires. The structural characteristics of these wires are also presented. Two-terminal electrical measurements of individual nanowires indicate barrier formation at the nanowire-electrode interfaces and measured resistivity values suggest doping of the nanowires, possibly due to air exposure. The first report of single conjugated polymer nanowires as ultra-miniature photodetectors is presented, with single wire devices yielding external quantum efficiencies ~ 0.1 % and responsivities ~ 0.4 mA/W under monochromatic illumination.

A discrete time-dependent method for metastable atoms and molecules in intense fields

The full-dimensional time-dependent Schrodinger equation for the electronic dynamics of single-electron systems in intense external fields is solved directly using a discrete method. Our approach combines the finite-difference and Lagrange mesh methods. The method is applied to calculate the quasienergies and ionization probabilities of atomic and molecular systems in intense static and dynamic electric fields. The gauge invariance and accuracy of the method is established. Applications to multiphoton ionization of positronium, the hydrogen atom and the hydrogen molecular ion are presented. At very high laser intensity, above the saturation threshold, we extend the method using a scaling technique to estimate the quasienergies of metastable states of the hydrogen molecular ion. The results are in good agreement with recent experiments. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.