Multisubband transport and magnetic deflection of Fermi electron trajectories in three terminal junctions and rings

TL;DR

This paper investigates electron transport in three-terminal junctions and quantum rings, analyzing the coexistence of Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and Lorentz force effects under various structural conditions.

Contribution

It demonstrates how specific geometries enable simultaneous observation of quantum interference and classical magnetic deflection effects in electron transport.

Findings

Lorentz force is prominent in wider channels with chaotic scattering.

Aharonov-Bohm oscillations are clear in structures with equal-length channels and T-junctions.

Wedge-shaped junctions allow for observing both effects simultaneously.

Abstract

We study the electron transport in three terminal junctions and quantum rings looking for the classical deflection of electron trajectories in presence of intersubband scattering. We indicate that although the Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and the Lorentz force effects co-exist in the low subband transport, for higher Fermi energies a simultaneous observation of the both effects is difficult and calls for carefully formed structures. In particular, in quantum rings with channels wider than the input lead the Lorentz force is well resolved but the Aharonov-Bohm periodicity is lost in chaotic scattering events. In quantum rings with equal length of the channels and $T$-shaped junctions the Aharonov-Bohm oscillations are distinctly periodic but the Lorentz force effects are not well pronounced. We find that systems with the wedge shaped junctions allow for observation of both the periodic Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and the magnetic deflection.