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Hanbury brown and twiss-type experiment with electrons
1ERATO (Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology) Quantum Fluctuation Project, Edward L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Basic Research Laboratories, 3-1 Morinosato-Wa.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 9, 1999
Summary
Fermion anti-bunching was observed by measuring electron current fluctuations. This confirms electrons behave individually, similar to photons in the Hanbury Brown and Twiss experiment.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Mesoscopic systems
Background:
- The Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) experiment demonstrated photon bunching.
- Fermions, unlike photons, obey the Pauli exclusion principle.
- Direct observation of fermion anti-bunching in electronic systems is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly observe fermion anti-bunching.
- To investigate electron partitioning in a mesoscopic beam splitter.
- To provide a fermionic analogue to the photon HBT experiment.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a quantum point contact to inject single-mode electrons.
- Employing a mesoscopic electron beam splitter device.
- Measuring the cross-covariance of output current fluctuations.
Main Results:
- Direct observation of negative cross-covariance in partitioned electron currents.
- Evidence of individual electron arrival and random partitioning.
- Observed ringing in cross-covariance consistent with measurement bandwidths.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated fermion anti-bunching, a key quantum property of electrons.
- Established a fermionic counterpart to the photon HBT experiment.
- Validated the use of current fluctuation measurements for probing quantum statistics.