Noise and Counting Statistics of a Single Electron Emitter: Theory

TL;DR

This paper reviews the noise properties and counting statistics of a mesoscopic capacitor as a single electron emitter, providing a theoretical model that matches experimental data and exploring its potential applications.

Contribution

It introduces a simple theoretical model that accurately reproduces high-frequency noise spectra and analyzes counting statistics for the mesoscopic capacitor as a single electron source.

Findings

Model reproduces measured noise spectra

Counting statistics assess emission accuracy

Potential applications in quantum electronics

Abstract

We review the latest progress in understanding the fundamental noise properties of a coherent single electron emitter known as the mesoscopic capacitor. The system consists of a sub-micron cavity connected to a two-dimensional electron gas via a quantum point contact. When subject to periodic gate voltage modulations, the mesoscopic capacitor absorbs and re-emits single electrons at giga-hertz frequencies as it has been demonstrated experimentally. Recent high-frequency noise measurements have moreover allowed for a precise characterization of the device in different operating regimes. Here we discuss a simple model of the basic charge transfer processes in the mesoscopic capacitor and show how the model is capable of fully reproducing the measured high-frequency noise spectrum. We extend our analysis to the counting statistics of emitted electrons during a large number of periods which we use to discuss the accuracy of the mesoscopic capacitor as a single electron source. Finally, we consider possible applications of the mesoscopic capacitor in future experiments and identify novel pathways for further theoretical research.