Towards quantized current arbitrary waveform synthesis

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the generation of ac modulated quantized current waveforms using a semiconductor single electron pump, enabling new applications in precision metrology and on-chip signal generation.

Contribution

It introduces a method for frequency modulation of a single electron pump to produce ac quantized currents with various waveforms and modulation frequencies.

Findings

Achieved sinusoidal and sawtooth modulation of current waveforms

Generated currents with modulation frequencies up to kHz

Peak currents reached up to 100 pA

Abstract

The generation of ac modulated quantized current waveforms using a semiconductor non-adiabatic single electron pump is demonstrated. In standard operation the single electron pump generates a quantized output current of I = ef where e is the charge of the electron and f is the pumping frequency. Suitable frequency modulation of f allows the generation of ac modulated output currents with different characteristics. By sinusoidal and saw tooth like modulation of f accordingly modulated quantized current waveforms with kHz modulation frequencies and peak currents up to 100 pA are obtained. Such ac quantized current sources could find applications ranging from precision ac metrology to on-chip signal generation.