2022/04/18 by Michael A. Forrester, Forrester, Michael, F. V. Kusmartsev +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #37N20 #FOS: Physical sciences #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Topological Materials and Phenomena
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2204.08305
openalex publication_date 2022/04/18 · openalex created_date 2022/04/26 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
An electron behaves as both a particle and a wave. On account of this it can be controlled in a similar way to a photon and electronic devices can be designed in analogy to those based on light when there is minimal excitation of the underlying Fermi sea. Here splitting of the electron wavefunction is explored for systems supporting Dirac type physics, with a focus on graphene but being equally applicable to electronic states in topological insulators, liquid helium, and other systems described relativistically. Electron beam-splitters and superfocusers are analysed along with propagation through nanoribbons, demonstrating that the waveform, system geometry, and energies all need to balance to maximise the probability density and hence lifetime of the flying electron. These findings form the basis for novel quantum electron optics.