Physics (Internal)

Charge Fractionalization and Transport in low dimensions

This event is part of the Biophysics/Condensed Matter Seminar Series.

Abstract: Electric charge normally comes in an indivisible unit: the charge of an electron. We show that quantum one-dimensional systems such as quantum wires or carbon nanotubes can carry charge in units smaller than a single electron charge. Observing charge fractionalization physics is usually a considerable challenge in those low-dimensional systems which are adiabatically coupled to metallic (measuring) leads. We theoretically introduce a multi-terminal geometry which allows to prove the charge fractionalization mechanism, in accordance with the recent experimental results (H. Steinberg et al. Nature Physics, Dec. 2007).

Pizza served at 11:30 AM