No Arabic abstract
Interference represents one of the most striking manifestation of quantum physics in low-dimensional systems. Despite evidences of quantum interference in charge transport have been known for a long time, only recently signatures of interference induced thermal properties have been reported, paving the way for the phase-coherent manipulation of heat in mesoscopic devices. In this work we show that anomalous thermoelectric properties and efficient heat rectification can be achieved by exploiting the phase-coherent edge states of quantum Hall systems. By considering a tunneling geometry with multiple quantum point contacts, we demonstrate that the interference paths effectively break the electron-hole symmetry, allowing for a thermoelectric charge current flowing either from hot to cold or viceversa, depending on the details of the tunnel junction. Correspondingly, an interference induced heat current is predicted, and we are able to explain these results in terms of an intuitive physical picture. Moreover, we show that heat rectification can be achieved by coupling two quantum Hall systems with different filling factors, and that this effect can be enhanced by exploiting the interference properties of the tunnel junction.
We predict and analyze {it radiation-induced quantum interference effect} in low-dimensional $n$-$p$ junctions. This phenomenon manifests itself by large oscillations of the photocurrent as a function of the gate voltage or the frequency of the radiation. The oscillations result from the quantum interference between two electron paths accompanied by resonant absorption of photons. They resemble Ramsey quantum beating and Stueckelberg oscillations well-known in atomic physics. The effect can be observed in one- and two-dimensional $n$-$p$ junctions based on nanowires, carbon nanotubes, monolayer or bilayer graphene nanoribbons.
In recent interference experiments with an electronic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI), implemented in the integer quantum Hall effect regime, a flux periodicity of $h/2e$ was observed at bulk fillings $ u_B>2.5$. The halved periodicity was accompanied by an interfering charge $e^*=2e$, determined by shot noise measurements. Here, we present measurements, demonstrating that, counterintuitively, the coherence and the interference periodicity of the interfering chiral edge channel are solely determined by the coherence and the enclosed flux of the adjacent edge channel. Our results elucidate the important role of the latter and suggest that a neutral chiral edge mode plays a crucial role in the pairing phenomenon. Our findings reveal that the observed pairing of electrons is not a curious isolated phenomenon, but one of many manifestations of unexpected edge physics in the quantum Hall effect regime.
Recently, a thermodynamic uncertainty relation (TUR) has been formulated for classical Markovian systems demonstrating trade-off between precision (current fluctuation) and cost (dissipation). Systems that violate the TUR are interesting as they overcome another trade-off relation concerning the efficiency of a heat engine, its power, and its stability (power fluctuations). Here, we analyze the root, extent, and impact on performance of TUR violations in quantum thermoelectric junctions at steady state. Considering noninteracting electrons, first we show that only the classical component of the current noise, arising from single-electron transfer events follows the TUR. The remaining, quantum part of current noise is therefore responsible for the potential violation of TUR in such quantum systems. Next, focusing on the resonant transport regime we determine the parameter range in which the violation of the TUR can be observed---for both voltage-biased junctions and thermoelectric engines. We illustrate our findings with exact numerical simulations of a serial double quantum dot system. Most significantly, we demonstrate that the TUR always holds in noninteracting thermoelectric generators when approaching the thermodynamic efficiency limit.
Heat rectifiers are systems that conduct heat asymmetrically for forward and reversed temperature gradients. Here, we present an analytical study of heat rectification in linear quantum systems. We demonstrate that asymmetric heat currents can be induced in a linear system only if it is dynamically driven. The rectification can be further enhanced, even achieving maximal performance, by detuning the oscillators of the driven network. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of such driven harmonic network to work as a thermal transistor, quantifying its efficiency through the dynamical amplification factor.
Nonlinear electrical properties of graphene-based three-terminal nanojunctions are presented. Intrinsic rectification of voltage is observed up to room temperature. The sign and the efficiency of the rectification can be tuned by a gate. Changing the charge carrier type from holes to electrons results in a change of the rectification sign. At a bias < 20mV and at a temperature below 4.2K the sign and the efficiency of the rectification are governed by universal conductance fluctuations.