Tuning the tunneling probability between low-dimensional electron systems by momentum matching
Abstract
We demonstrate the possibility to tune the tunneling probability between an array of self- assembled quantum dots and a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) by changing the energy imbalance between the dot states and the 2DEG. Contrary to the expectation from Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, the tunneling rate decreases with increasing injection energy. This can be explained by an increasing momentum mismatch between the dot states and the Fermi-circle in the 2DEG. Our findings demonstrate momentum matching as a useful mechanism (in addition to energy conservation, density of states, and transmission probability) to electrically control the charge transfer between quantum dots and an electron reservoir.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- June 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.4922738
- Bibcode:
- 2015ApPhL.106x3105Z