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Updated: Jan 7, 2026
11:33
All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics
Published on: January 19, 2018
10.2K
On-Demand and Tunable Andreev Conversion of Single-Electron Charge Pulses
Pablo Burset1,2,3, Benjamin Roussel4, Michael Moskalets5,6
1Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Department of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|January 2, 2026
Summary
Scientists propose a new method to convert single-electron pulses into holes using superconductors. This breakthrough in electron quantum optics could advance quantum sensing and information processing with current technology.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Electron quantum optics studies coherent electron charge pulse propagation in nanoscale circuits.
- Incorporating superconductors offers potential for electron-hole degree of freedom applications in quantum technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and analyze a tunable mechanism for converting single-electron pulses into holes via Andreev processes on a superconductor.
- To demonstrate controllable generation of coherent electron-hole superpositions.
Main Methods:
- Development of a Floquet-Nambu scattering formalism.
- Utilizing interferometric magnetic flux control based on quantum Hall chiral edge states.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated dynamic conversion of charge pulses.
- Showcased controllable generation of coherent electron-hole superpositions.
- Identified optimal conditions for realistic scenarios.
Conclusions:
- The proposed mechanism is feasible with current technology.
- This work paves the way for advanced quantum sensing and information processing.
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