Electron-avalanche amplifier based on the electronic Venturi effect

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates an electron-avalanche amplifier utilizing the electronic Venturi effect in a 2D electron system, showing current amplification through Coulomb interactions and non-equilibrium scattering.

Contribution

It introduces a novel electron amplification mechanism based on the electronic Venturi effect, supported by experimental data and numerical modeling.

Findings

Observation of avalanche amplification of electrical current

Coulomb interaction identified as the dominant scattering mechanism

Agreement between experimental data and numerical calculations

Abstract

Scattering of otherwise ballistic electrons far from equilibrium is investigated in a cold two-dimensional electron system. The interaction between excited electrons and the degenerate Fermi liquid induces a positive charge in a nanoscale region which would be negatively charged for diffusive transport at local thermal equilibrium. In a three-terminal device we observe avalanche amplification of electrical current, resulting in a situation comparable to the Venturi effect in hydrodynamics. Numerical calculations using a random phase approximation are in agreement with our data and suggest Coulomb interaction as the dominant scattering mechanism.