Quantum pump effect induced by a linearly polarized microwave in a two-dimensional electron gas

J Phys Condens Matter. 2012 May 30;24(21):215304. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/24/21/215304. Epub 2012 May 11.

Abstract

A quantum pump effect is predicted in an ideal homogeneous two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) that is normally irradiated by linearly polarized microwaves (MW). Without considering effects from spin-orbital coupling or the magnetic field, it is found that a polarized MW can continuously pump electrons from the longitudinal to the transverse direction, or from the transverse to the longitudinal direction, in the central irradiated region. The large pump current is obtained for both the low frequency limit and the high frequency case. Its magnitude depends on sample properties such as the size of the radiated region, the power and frequency of the MW, etc. Through the calculated results, the pump current should be attributed to the dominant photon-assisted tunneling processes as well as the asymmetry of the electron density of states with respect to the Fermi energy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Electrons*
  • Gases / chemistry*
  • Gases / radiation effects*
  • Microwaves*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Quantum Theory*

Substances

  • Gases