Coulomb Drag Between One-Dimensional Electron Systems

One-dimensional (1D) quantum wires provide a versatile platform for studying strong electron-electron interactions and collective excitations under confinement. Coulomb drag between 1D systems offers a powerful probe of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid (TLL) physics, with theoretical predictions suggesting distinct power-law in temperature dependencies between the spin-full and the spin-polarized regimes. However, experimental verification has thus far remained limited. Here, we report measurements of reciprocal and nonreciprocal Coulomb drag between vertically coupled quasi-1D quantum wires in the spin-polarized regime. Clear signatures of spin splitting are observed in both the wires conductance and the drag signal. We observed a connection between electron-hole asymmetry and negative drag, and demonstrated different power-law behaviors in spin-full and spin-polarized regimes, yielding consistent TLL interaction parameters. These results validate the theoretical predictions for backscattering induced drag in the reciprocal regime and extend them to the nonreciprocal and the multiple subband regimes. Furthermore, the nonmonotonic density dependence of the reciprocal interaction parameter correlates with the subband occupation of the drag wire, revealing the complexity of the scattering mechanisms in multichannel systems.One-dimensional (1D) quantum wires provide a versatile platform for studying strong electron-electron interactions and collective excitations under confinement. Coulomb drag between 1D systems offers a powerful probe of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid (TLL) physics, with theoretical predictions suggesting distinct power-law in temperature dependencies between the spin-full and the spin-polarized regimes. However, experimental verification has thus far remained limited. Here, we report measurements of reciprocal and nonreciprocal Coulomb drag between vertically coupled quasi-1D quantum wires in the spin-polarized regime. Clear signatures of spin splitting are observed in both the wires conductance and the drag signal. We observed a connection between electron-hole asymmetry and negative drag, and demonstrated different power-law behaviors in spin-full and spin-polarized regimes, yielding consistent TLL interaction parameters. These results validate the theoretical predictions for backscattering induced drag in the reciprocal regime and extend them to the nonreciprocal and the multiple subband regimes. Furthermore, the nonmonotonic density dependence of the reciprocal interaction parameter correlates with the subband occupation of the drag wire, revealing the complexity of the scattering mechanisms in multichannel systems.

arXiv:2506.14967Physical review. B./Physical review. BFeb 19, 20263 citations

Interacting electrons in one-dimensional confinements

T. Shirai, Hideaki Kasai, Wilson Agerico Diño +2 more

Surface ScienceAug 1, 20021 citation

Coulomb Drag between One-Dimensional Conductors

Vadim V. Ponomarenko, D. V. Averin

We have analyzed Coulomb drag between currents of interacting electrons in two parallel one-dimensional conductors of finite length $L$ attached to external reservoirs. For strong coupling, the relative fluctuations of electron density in the conductors acquire energy gap $M$ . At energies larger than $\ensuremath{\Gamma}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{const}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{v}_{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}LM/{v}_{\ensuremath{-}})/L+{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{+}$, where ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{+}$ is the impurity scattering rate, and, for $L>{v}_{\ensuremath{-}}/M$, where ${v}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ is the fluctuation velocity, the gap leads to an ``ideal'' drag with almost equal currents in the conductors. At low energies the drag is suppressed by coherent instanton tunneling, and the zero-temperature transconductance vanishes, indicating the Fermi-liquid behavior.We have analyzed Coulomb drag between currents of interacting electrons in two parallel one-dimensional conductors of finite length $L$ attached to external reservoirs. For strong coupling, the relative fluctuations of electron density in the conductors acquire energy gap $M$. At energies larger than $\ensuremath{\Gamma}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{const}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{v}_{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}LM/{v}_{\ensuremath{-}})/L+{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{+}$, where ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{+}$ is the impurity scattering rate, and, for $L>{v}_{\ensuremath{-}}/M$, where ${v}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ is the fluctuation velocity, the gap leads to an ``ideal'' drag with almost equal currents in the conductors. At low energies the drag is suppressed by coherent instanton tunneling, and the zero-temperature transconductance vanishes, indicating the Fermi-liquid behavior.

arXiv:cond-mat/0003118Physical Review LettersDec 4, 200032 citations

Ground states in one-dimensional electron systems

W. Hansen, D. Schmerek, Chr. Steinebach

Physics-UspekhiFeb 28, 19987 citations

We have analyzed Coulomb drag between currents of interacting electrons in two parallel one-dimensional conductors of finite length

L

attached to external reservoirs. For strong coupling, the relative fluctuations of electron density in the conductors acquire energy gap

M

. At energies larger than $\ensuremath{\Gamma}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{const}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{v}_{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}LM/{v}_{\ensuremath{-}})/L+{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{+}$, where ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{+}$ is the impurity scattering rate, and, for $L>{v}_{\ensuremath{-}}/M$, where ${v}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ is the fluctuation velocity, the gap leads to an ``ideal'' drag with almost equal currents in the conductors. At low energies the drag is suppressed by coherent instanton tunneling, and the zero-temperature transconductance vanishes, indicating the Fermi-liquid behavior.