Single-Electron Control on the Atomic Level

D. V. Averin, Leonard Frank Register, K. K. Likharev +1 more

The possibility of processing digital information coded by single electrons on the atomic scale is discussed by analyzing the dynamics of one and two electrons within a simple model structure. Specifically, the probability of passage of an electron within a chain of atomic sites through a potential well, either empty or already occupied by another electron, is investigated both analytically and numerically. It is demonstrated that quantum effects can significantly decrease the reliability of the control that one electron has over the propagation of another. For the structure considered, a few tens of atomic sites and a specific choice of the potential well depth are necessary for reliable control.

Anonymous

Shi Hong-Yun, Chen He-Sheng

Quantum dot is a typical nano functional device, which has a very attractive prospect in biotechnology, semiconductor technology, quantum optics and other fields. In this paper, we construct a cavity containing a two-level atom to simulate a nano cavity coupling a two-level quantum dot, and study the electrical transmission in the cavity. We solve the transfer function of a single electron and obtain the formulas of transportation and reflection. By adjusting the intrinsic properties of the cavity and the atom and coupling between them, we study the transmission characteristics of a single electron in the cavity and understand the role of the two-level atom and the cavity in the electrical transport. The results can provide some theoretical support for quantum control of the electron transport in a nano device.

Ronald A. Bryan

Alexandros Emboras, Jens Niegemann, Ping Ma +6 more

The atom sets an ultimate scaling limit to Moore's law in the electronics industry. While electronics research already explores atomic scales devices, photonics research still deals with devices at the micrometer scale. Here we demonstrate that photonic scaling, similar to electronics, is only limited by the atom. More precisely, we introduce an electrically controlled plasmonic switch operating at the atomic scale. The switch allows for fast and reproducible switching by means of the relocation of an individual or, at most, a few atoms in a plasmonic cavity. Depending on the location of the atom either of two distinct plasmonic cavity resonance states are supported. Experimental results show reversible digital optical switching with an extinction ratio of 9.2 dB and operation at room temperature up to MHz with femtojoule (fJ) power consumption for a single switch operation. This demonstration of an integrated quantum device allowing to control photons at the atomic level opens intriguing perspectives for a fully integrated and highly scalable chip platform, a platform where optics, electronics, and memory may be controlled at the single-atom level.