Nonlinear conductance of quantum point contacts
- 15 April 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review B
- Vol. 39 (11), 8040-8043
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.39.8040
Abstract
The conductance of ballistic quantum constrictions in a two-dimensional electron gas has been studied experimentally as a function of the applied voltage. Large nonlinearities are found in the current-voltage characteristics. We give a simple model, which explains the main features of the nonlinear conductance. Breakdown of the conductance quantization occurs when the number of occupied one-dimensional subbands becomes unequal for the two velocity directions. A critical voltage is found for the breakdown, which is equal to the subband separation at the Fermi level.Keywords
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