Clock-controlled emission of single-electron wavepackets in a solid-state circuit

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the controlled emission and transport of high-energy single-electron wavepackets in a solid-state circuit, with precise timing and energy measurements, enabling potential quantum information applications.

Contribution

It introduces a clock-controlled quantum dot source for single electrons and shows their ballistic transport and wavepacket characterization at picosecond resolution.

Findings

Electrons emitted with ~150 meV energy can travel microns without scattering.

Time-resolved spectroscopy measures electron wavepacket size and energy.

Technique enables switching electrons into different paths.

Abstract

We demonstrate the transmission of single electron wavepackets from a clock-controlled source through an empty high-energy edge channel. The quantum dot source is loaded with single electrons which are then emitted with high kinetic energy ($\sim$150 meV). We find at high magnetic field that these electron can be transported over several microns without inelastic electron-electron or electron-phonon scattering. Using a time-resolved spectroscopic technique, we measure the electron energy and wavepacket size at picosecond time scales. We also show how our technique can be used to switch individual electrons into different paths.