Imaging signatures of the local density of states in an electronic cavity

TL;DR

This study employs scanning gate microscopy to visualize how the local density of states in an electronic cavity influences electron transport, combining experimental imaging with quantum simulations to understand the system's quantum behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates the ability to image local density of states in a buried electron system and correlates conductance modulations with quantum mechanical simulations.

Findings

Conductance modulations depend on tip position and voltage.

Simulations accurately reproduce experimental conductance patterns.

Imaging reveals the relationship between conductance and local density of states.

Abstract

We use Scanning Gate Microscopy to study electron transport through an open, gate-defined resonator in a Ga(Al)As heterostructure. Raster-scanning the voltage-biased metallic tip above the resonator, we observe distinct conductance modulations as a function of the tip-position and voltage. Quantum mechanical simulations reproduce these conductance modulations and reveal their relation to the partial local density of states in the resonator. Our measurements illustrate the current frontier between possibilities and limitations in imaging the local density of states in buried electron systems using scanning gate microscopy.