Lateral electron localization by the induced surface charge

TL;DR

This paper explores how an electron interacts with induced surface charges, leading to lateral confinement and the formation of a new quasi-particle called inducton, with potential experimental observations in various nanostructures.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of inductons as electrons coupled with induced surface charges, revealing a new form of lateral electron confinement.

Findings

Electrons can be confined laterally by induced surface charges.

The electron and induced charge form a new quasi-particle called inducton.

Potential experimental evidence in nanostructures and interfaces.

Abstract

We investigate the problem of the electron interacting with the charge induced on the metal or dielectric surface. We show that the interaction between the electron and the induced surface charge leads to the lateral confinement of the electron. As a result the electron propagates parallel to the surface not as a plane wave but as a wave packet of a Gaussian shape. The electron moving together with the induced charge can be treated as a new quasi-particle, which we call inducton. We discuss a possible experimental evidence for inductons in semiconductor nanostructures, metal-vacuum, and dielectric-vacuum interfaces.