Spin and charge in semiconductor nanowires

Spin and charge in semiconductor nanowires

Zwanenburg, F.A.

Kouwenhoven, L.P. (promotor)

Applied Sciences

2008-09-16

The research in this thesis is motivated by an interest in quantum physics and by the prospect of new applications based on the spin of electrons or holes. This work focuses on confining single spins in quantum dots, which can serve as building blocks of a future quantum computer. Such a computer exploits the unique features of quantum mechanics to perform computations that are not possible classically. Long spin lifetimes are crucial to carry out operations on spin quantum bits. We report a number of important steps towards the creation of spin quantum bits in a material with an expected long spin lifetime: the demonstration of single quantum dots in Si nanowires, the isolation of a single hole in a Si quantum dot, energy and magnetic field spectroscopy of the first four spin states, and the use of a scanning probe microscope to locate quantum dots inside InAs nanowires. Additionally we try to make novel spintronic devices that exceed modern-day silicon IC-technology in terms of data processing speed, power consumption, non-volatility and integration densities. The demonstration of electric field control of the magnetoresistance in InP nanowires shows our ability to combine the functionalities of semiconductors and magnetic materials.

spin
silicon
quantum dots
quantum computation

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a9fe5ea4-3ac9-4ff4-8934-2d2ed5f501d3

978-90-8593-042-6

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2008 F.A. Zwanenburg