Quantum ratchets and quantum heat pumps
(2002) In Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing 75(2). p.237-246- Abstract
- Quantum ratchets are Brownian motors in which the quantum dynamics of particles induces qualitatively new behavior. We review a series of experiments in which asymmetric semiconductor devices of sub-micron dimensions are used to study quantum ratchets for electrons. In rocked quantum-dot ratchets electron-wave interference is used to create a non-linear voltage response, leading to a ratchet effect. The direction of the net ratchet current in this type of device can be sensitively controlled by changing one of the following experimental variables: a small external magnetic field, the amplitude of the rocking force, or the Fermi energy. We also describe a tunneling ratchet in which the current direction depends on temperature. In our... (More)
- Quantum ratchets are Brownian motors in which the quantum dynamics of particles induces qualitatively new behavior. We review a series of experiments in which asymmetric semiconductor devices of sub-micron dimensions are used to study quantum ratchets for electrons. In rocked quantum-dot ratchets electron-wave interference is used to create a non-linear voltage response, leading to a ratchet effect. The direction of the net ratchet current in this type of device can be sensitively controlled by changing one of the following experimental variables: a small external magnetic field, the amplitude of the rocking force, or the Fermi energy. We also describe a tunneling ratchet in which the current direction depends on temperature. In our discussion of the tunneling ratchet we distinguish between three contributions to the non-linear current-voltage characteristics that lead to the ratchet effect: thermal excitation over energy barriers, tunneling through barriers, and wave reflection from barriers. Finally, we discuss the operation of adiabatically rocked tunneling ratchets as heat pumps. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/336347
- author
- Linke, H ; Humphrey, TE ; Lindelof, PE ; Löfgren, Anneli LU ; Newbury, R ; Omling, Pär LU ; Sushkov, AO ; Taylor, RP and Xu, Hongqi LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2002
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing
- volume
- 75
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 237 - 246
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000175917400010
- scopus:0036681116
- ISSN
- 1432-0630
- DOI
- 10.1007/s003390201335
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ae1b87dd-d791-4f52-8fdb-f765800306e7 (old id 336347)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:27:08
- date last changed
- 2022-02-26 07:16:53
@article{ae1b87dd-d791-4f52-8fdb-f765800306e7,
abstract = {{Quantum ratchets are Brownian motors in which the quantum dynamics of particles induces qualitatively new behavior. We review a series of experiments in which asymmetric semiconductor devices of sub-micron dimensions are used to study quantum ratchets for electrons. In rocked quantum-dot ratchets electron-wave interference is used to create a non-linear voltage response, leading to a ratchet effect. The direction of the net ratchet current in this type of device can be sensitively controlled by changing one of the following experimental variables: a small external magnetic field, the amplitude of the rocking force, or the Fermi energy. We also describe a tunneling ratchet in which the current direction depends on temperature. In our discussion of the tunneling ratchet we distinguish between three contributions to the non-linear current-voltage characteristics that lead to the ratchet effect: thermal excitation over energy barriers, tunneling through barriers, and wave reflection from barriers. Finally, we discuss the operation of adiabatically rocked tunneling ratchets as heat pumps.}},
author = {{Linke, H and Humphrey, TE and Lindelof, PE and Löfgren, Anneli and Newbury, R and Omling, Pär and Sushkov, AO and Taylor, RP and Xu, Hongqi}},
issn = {{1432-0630}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{237--246}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing}},
title = {{Quantum ratchets and quantum heat pumps}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s003390201335}},
doi = {{10.1007/s003390201335}},
volume = {{75}},
year = {{2002}},
}