Quantum Coherent Multielectron Processes in an Atomic Scale Contact
Abstract
The light emission from a scanning tunneling microscope operated on a Ag(111) surface at 6 K is analyzed from low conductances to values approaching the conductance quantum. Optical spectra recorded at sample voltages V reveal emission with photon energies h ν >2 e V . A model of electrons interacting coherently via a localized plasmon-polariton mode reproduces the experimental data, in particular, the kinks in the spectra at e V and 2 e V as well as the scaling of the intensity at low and intermediate conductances.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- August 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.066803
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1809.02793
- Bibcode:
- 2017PhRvL.119f6803P
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 4 figures