Quantum Transport in Mesoscopic Devices Transport measurements are used to characterize the structural and electrical properties of novel semiconductor materials and devices. These experimental studies are performed at ultra low temperature studies using a number of different systems. A Kelvinox-100 dilution refrigerator provides routine access to temperatures below 10 mK, and incorporates a superconducting magnet that allows steady state magnetic fields of up to 10 T to be achieved.
All measurements are computer controlled and monitored.
The transport properties of these structures are strongly influenced by quantum mechanical phenomena, such as electron wave interference and geometrically induced energy quantization. Magneto-transport studies may be used probe these phenomena and to determine the factors which limit electron phase coherence within the structures. Current interest in these devices is motivated by their potential application in new areas of technology, such as quantum computing and ultra high frequency signal processing. Single electron charging may be observed in quantum dots when current flow through them can only occur by tunneling. In this figure the large peaks correspond to removing succesive electrons from the dot, one by one, as the voltage on a control gate is varied.