Time-dependent simulation and analytical modelling of electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometry with edge-states wave...

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Optics
• Mesoscopic Physics

Background:

• Electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometers are crucial for quantum information processing.
• Landau edge states in the quantum Hall regime offer unique transport properties.
• Carrier localization effects can significantly alter quantum interference phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compute the exact single-particle time-resolved dynamics of electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometers.
• To investigate the influence of carrier spatial localization on interference patterns.
• To develop an analytical model for these quantum transport phenomena.

Main Methods:

• Numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation with a 2D potential profile.
• Simulation of Landau edge-state transport in the quantum Hall regime (filling factor one).
• Representation of injected carriers as a superposition of edge states.
• Development of an analytical model incorporating finite spatial dispersion.

Main Results:

• The interference pattern reproduces known results, controllable via magnetic field and area.
• Two novel features related to carrier localization were observed: damping of Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and increased mean transmission.
• The damping correlates with increasing arm length differences.
• Increased transmission is linked to energy-dependent quantum point contact transmittance.

Conclusions:

• Carrier localization plays a critical role in the dynamics and interference patterns of electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometers.
• The developed analytical model accurately reproduces the observed phenomena, including localization effects.
• This work provides deeper insights into quantum transport in mesoscopic systems.