Observation of quantum states without a semiclassical equivalence bound by a magnetic field gradient

TL;DR

This paper reports the experimental observation of unique quantum states in a ballistic quantum wire, existing at zero magnetic field points, which lack classical counterparts and depend on magnetic field profile and Fermi energy.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental evidence of quantum states without classical semiclassical equivalents in a magnetic field gradient.

Findings

Quantum states observed at zero magnetic field points in a quantum wire.

Properties of these states depend on magnetic field amplitude and Fermi energy.

First experimental confirmation of theoretically predicted non-classical quantum states.

Abstract

Resonant transmission through electronic quantum states that exist at the zero points of a magnetic field gradient inside a ballistic quantum wire is reported. Since the semiclassical motion along such a line of zero magnetic field takes place in form of unidirectional snake trajectories, these states have no classical equivalence. The existence of such quantum states has been predicted more than a decade ago by theoretical considerations of Reijniers and coworkers [1]. We further show how their properties depend on the amplitude of the magnetic field profile as well as on the Fermi energy.