Magnetic states in prismatic core multishell nanowires

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the geometry and magnetic fields influence electronic states in prismatic core multishell nanowires, revealing quantum confinement, tunneling, and magnetic field-induced transitions in these nanostructures.

Contribution

It provides new insights into magnetic field effects on quantum states in prismatic nanowires with specific geometric and material configurations.

Findings

Quantum confinement occurs at nanowire edges due to prismatic symmetry.

Magnetic fields induce Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and dimensional transitions.

Predictions are made for GaAs, InAs, and InGaN nanostructures.

Abstract

We study the electronic states of core multi-shell semiconductor nanowires, including the effect of strong magnetic fields. We show that the multi-shell overgrowth of a free-standing nanowire, together with the prismatic symmetry of the substrate, may induce quantum confinement of carriers in a set of quasi-1D quantum channels corresponding to the nanowire edges. Localization and inter-channel tunnel coupling are controlled by the curvature at the edges and the diameter of the underlying nanowire. We also show that a magnetic field may induce either Aharonov-Bohm oscillations of the energy levels in the axial configuration, or a dimensional transition of the quantum states from quasi-1D to Landau levels for fields normal to the axis. Explicit predictions are given for nanostructures based on GaAs, InAs, and InGaN with different symmetries.