Electron transport in nanostructures controlled by phase-locked single-cycle light pulses (B08*)

• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2016 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 32152442

The project aims at coherent control of charge currents in nanojunctions triggered by phase-locked single cycles of light. In case of a cosine-like phase, the incident optical field combined with nonlinear current-voltage characteristics causes a symmetry break, resulting in a net current of electrons. Lateral constriction by the feedgaps of plasmonic circuits or in semiconductor resonant tunneling structures allows working in the limit of single or few electrons transferred per pulse. The nanometer and femtosecond spatiotemporal confinement enables transport studies in a new range of current densities where e.g. Coulomb repulsion may be effective even at room temperature.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 767: Controlled Nanosystems: Interaction and Interfacing to the Macroscale
• Applicant Institution: Universität Konstanz
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Daniele Brida, from 1/2016 until 6/2018; Professor Dr. Alfred Leitenstorfer, since 1/2016