The Nanoelectronics Group
We have a number of interests within the broader topic of the physics of nanoscale electronic devices and condensed matter physics. Our current focus is in three areas:
1. The development of novel electronic devices based on self-assembled semiconductor nanowires made with III-V semiconductors such as InAs and GaAs. We are particularly interested in quantum transport effects and how the strong spin-orbit coupling experienced by electrons in InAs and holes in GaAs might be used to make spintronic devices. This work involves collaborations with Lund University in Sweden and the Australian National University.
2. Ballistic transport of electrons and holes in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures and how this is influenced by spin-orbit coupling effects. This work involves collaborations with Massey University in New Zealand and Ruhr Universitat Bochum in Germany.
3. The electronic properties of organic materials including conductive plastic films made by ion-beam techniques, and soluble acene derivatives. This work involves collaborations with the University of Queensland and the University of Kentucky.
The Nanoelectronics group is an off-shoot of the Quantum Electronic Devices group at UNSW, being established in Nov 2010.
Recent Publications
- "(NH4)2Sx passivation of the (311)A GaAs surface in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures", D.J. Carrad, A.M. Burke, P.J. Reece, R.W. Lyttleton, D.E.J. Waddington, A. Rai, D. Reuter, A.D. Wieck and A.P. Micolich, Submitted to Physical Review B, available at arXiv:1212.0930.
- "Origin of gate hysteresis in p-type Si-doped AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures", A.M. Burke, D.E.J. Waddington, D.J. Carrad, R.W. Lyttleton, H.H. Tan, P.J. Reece, O. Klochan, A.R. Hamilton, A. Rai, D. Reuter, A.D. Wieck and A.P. Micolich, Physical Review B 86, 165309 (2012).
This paper was one of seven articles highlighted as an 'Editor's Suggestion' in this issue of Physical Review B. - "Extreme Sensitivity of the Spin-Splitting and 0.7 Anomaly to Confining Potential in One-Dimensional Nanoelectronic Devices", A.M. Burke, O. Klochan, I. Farrer, D.A. Ritchie, A.R. Hamilton and A.P. Micolich, Nano Letters 12, 4495 (2012).
- "Is it the boundaries or disorder that dominates electron transport in semiconductor 'billiards'?", A.P. Micolich, A.M. See, B.C. Scannell, C.A. Marlow, T.P. Martin, I. Pilgrim, A.R. Hamilton, H. Linke and R.P. Taylor, In press for Fortschritte der Physik (2012).
This paper is a 16 page invited review article on ballistic transport in quantum dots and the implications of our recent work on small-angle scattering and disorder in these devices. - "Impact of Small-angle Scattering on Ballistic Transport in Quantum Dots", A.M. See, I. Pilgrim, B.C. Scannell, R.D. Montgomery, O. Klochan, A.M. Burke, M. Aagesen, P.E. Lindelof, I. Farrer, D.A. Ritchie, R.P. Taylor, A.R. Hamilton and A.P. Micolich, Physical Review Letters 108, 196807 (2012).
This paper was highlighted by news articles in Science Daily, PhysOrg and Science Alert, and a podcast for Materials Today. - "Probing the sensitivity of electron wave interference to disorder-induced scattering in solid-state devices", B.C. Scannell, I. Pilgrim, A.M. See, R.D. Montgomery, P.K. Morse, M.S. Fairbanks, C.A. Marlow, H. Linke, I. Farrer, D.A. Ritchie, A.R. Hamilton, A.P. Micolich, L. Eaves and R.P. Taylor, Physical Review B 85, 195319 (2012).
- "What lurks below the last plateau: experimental studies of the 0.7 x 2e2/h conductance anomaly in one-dimensional systems", A.P. Micolich, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 23, 443201 (2011).
This paper is a 73 page review article on the 15 year history of the 0.7 plateau in quantum point contacts. - * "Observation of the Kondo Effect in a Spin-3/2 Hole Quantum Dot", O. Klochan, A.P. Micolich, A.R. Hamilton, K. Trunov, D. Reuter and A.D. Wieck, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 076805 (2011).
- "Tracking the energies of one-dimensional sub-band edges in quantum point contacts using dc conductance measurements", A.P. Micolich and U. Zülicke, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 23, 362201 (2011).
- "A Tunable Metal-Organic Resistance Thermometer", A.P. Stephenson, A.P. Micolich, K.H. Lee, P. Meredith and B.J. Powell,Chem. Phys. Chem. 12, 116 (2010).
This Communication was highlighted by news articles in Materials Today, Wired, PhysOrg, TCE Today, and Chemistry Views.
This Communication made Chem.Phys.Chem.'s list of 25 most downloaded papers for 2011. - * "Electrometry using the quantum Hall effect in a bilayer 2D electron system", L.H. Ho, L.J. Taskinen, A.P. Micolich, A.R. Hamilton, P. Atkinson and D.A. Ritchie, Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 212102 (2010).
- * "AlGaAs/GaAs single electron transistors fabricated without modulation doping", A.M. See, O. Klochan, A.R. Hamilton, A.P. Micolich, M. Aagesen and P.E. Lindelof, Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 112104 (2010).
- * "Fabrication and characterization of an induced GaAs single hole transistor", O. Klochan, J.C.H. Chen, A.P. Micolich, A.R. Hamilton, K. Muraki and Y. Hirayama, Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 092103 (2010).
- "Competition between superconductivity and weak localization in metal-mixed ion-implanted polymers", A.P. Stephenson, A.P. Micolich, U. Divakar, P. Meredith and B.J. Powell, Phys. Rev. B 81, 144520 (2010).
- * "Field orientation dependence of the Zeeman spin-splitting in (In,Ga)As quantum point contacts", T.P. Martin, A. Szorkovszky, A.P. Micolich, A.R. Hamilton, C.A. Marlow, R.P. Taylor, H. Linke and H.Q. Xu, Phys. Rev. B 81, 041403 (2010).
- "Superconductivity in metal-mixed ion-implanted polymer films", A.P. Micolich, E. Tavenner, B.J. Powell, A.R. Hamilton, M.T. Curry, R.E. Giedd and P. Meredith, Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 152503 (2006).
"Realizing lateral wrap-gated nanowire FETs: Controlling gate length with chemistry rather than lithography", K. Storm, G. Nylund, L. Samuelson and A.P. Micolich, Nano Letters 12, 1 (2012).
This paper is the cover article for the Jan. 2012 edition of Nano Letters.
This paper was highlighted by news articles in Materials Today, PhysOrg and Zeitnews.
* indicates papers completed in close association with Quantum Electronic Devices group