Electron Phase Shift at the Zero-Bias Anomaly of Quantum Point Contacts

Phys Rev Lett. 2016 Apr 1;116(13):136801. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.136801. Epub 2016 Mar 28.

Abstract

The Kondo effect is the many-body screening of a local spin by a cloud of electrons at very low temperature. It has been proposed as an explanation of the zero-bias anomaly in quantum point contacts where interactions drive a spontaneous charge localization. However, the Kondo origin of this anomaly remains under debate, and additional experimental evidence is necessary. Here we report on the first phase-sensitive measurement of the zero-bias anomaly in quantum point contacts using a scanning gate microscope to create an electronic interferometer. We observe an abrupt shift of the interference fringes by half a period in the bias range of the zero-bias anomaly, a behavior which cannot be reproduced by single-particle models. We instead relate it to the phase shift experienced by electrons scattering off a Kondo system. Our experiment therefore provides new evidence of this many-body effect in quantum point contacts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't