Electrical Control, Read-out and Initialization of Single Electron Spins

An electron, in addition to its electric charge, possesses a small magnetic moment, called spin. The spin of an electron can point parallel (spin-up) or antiparallel (spin-down) to the magnetic field. These two states are analogous to zero and one of the logical bit in current digital electronic devices. However, according to the laws of quantum...

Spin and charge in semiconductor nanowires

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...

Coherence and control of a single electron spin in a quantum dot

An electron does not only have an electric charge, but also a small magnetic moment, called spin. In a magnetic field, the spin can point in the same direction as the field (spin-up) or in the opposite direction (spin-down). However, the laws of quantum mechanics also allow the spin to exist in both states at the same time (so-called...

Quantum Superpositions of Persistent Josephson Currents

This thesis presents experimental research on Josephson junction devices that behave quantum mechanically. The devices are formed by micrometer-sized superconducting islands, that are interconnected by a Josephson tunnel junction: a thin insulating layer between two superconductors. With current microfabrication technology it is possible to make...