Electronic and spin properties of hole point contacts

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how tunable lateral confinement affects the electronic and spin properties of hole states in two-dimensional systems, revealing enhanced control over their behavior for quantum device applications.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed theoretical model using the 4x4 Luttinger framework to analyze quasi-1D hole subbands and g-factors, highlighting the impact of band mixing on property manipulation.

Findings

Confinement induces band mixing, enabling wider control of hole properties.

Calculated anisotropic g-factors vary with confinement parameters.

Results align with recent experimental measurements of Zeeman splitting.

Abstract

We have studied theoretically the effect of a tuneable lateral confinement on two-dimensional hole systems realised in III-V semiconductor heterostructures. Based on the 4x4 Luttinger description of the valence band, we have calculated quasi-onedimensional (quasi-1D) hole subband energies and anisotropic Lande g-factors. Confinement-induced band mixing results in the possibility to manipulate electronic and spin properties of quasi-1D hole states over a much wider range than is typically possible for confined conduction-band electrons. Our results are relevant for recent experiments where source-drain-bias spectroscopy was used to measure Zeeman splitting of holes in p-type quantum point contacts.