Stationary drag photocurrent caused by strong running wave in quantum wire: quantization of current

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a strong running wave in a quantum wire induces a quantized stationary current, influenced by impurity scattering and system symmetry, revealing quantization when the Fermi level aligns with energy gaps.

Contribution

It demonstrates the quantization of drag current in a quantum wire caused by a running wave, considering impurity effects, which is a novel insight into quantum transport phenomena.

Findings

Drag current is quantized at energy gaps.

Impurity scattering affects the current but does not eliminate quantization.

Running wave induces minibands in the quantum wire.

Abstract

The stationary current induced by a strong running potential wave in one-dimensional system is studied. Such a wave can result from illumination of a straight quantum wire with special grating or spiral quantum wire by circular-polarized light. The wave drags electrons in the direction correlating with the direction of the system symmetry and polarization of light. In a pure system the wave induces minibands in the accompanied system of reference. We study the effect in the presence of impurity scattering. The current is an interplay between the wave drag and impurity braking. It was found that the drag current is quantized when the Fermi level gets into energy gaps.