We study the magnetotransport in small hybrid junctions formed by high-mobility GaInAs/InP heterostructures coupled to superconducting (S) and normal metal (N) terminals. Highly transmissive superconducting contacts to a two-dimensional electron gas
(2DEG) located in a GaInAs/InP heterostructure are realized by using a Au/NbN layer system. The magnetoresistance of the S/2DEG/N structures is studied as a function of dc bias current and temperature. At bias currents below a critical value, the resistance of the S/2DEG/N structures develops a strong oscillatory dependence on the magnetic field, with an amplitude of the oscillations considerably larger than that of the reference N/2DEG/N structures. The experimental results are qualitatively explained by taking Andreev reflection in high magnetic fields into account.
The magnetotransport in a set of identical parallel AlGaN/GaN quantum wire structures was investigated. The width of the wires was ranging between 1110 nm and 340 nm. For all sets of wires clear Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations are observed. We find t
hat the electron concentration and mobility is approximately the same for all wires, confirming that the electron gas in the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure is not deteriorated by the fabrication procedure of the wire structures. For the wider quantum wires the weak antilocalization effect is clearly observed, indicating the presence of spin-orbit coupling. For narrow quantum wires with an effective electrical width below 250 nm the weak antilocalization effect is suppressed. By comparing the experimental data to a theoretical model for quasi one-dimensional structures we come to the conclusion that the spin-orbit scattering length is enhanced in narrow wires.
