Observation and spectroscopy of a two-electron Wigner molecule in an ultraclean carbon nanotube
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Observation and spectroscopy of a two-electron Wigner molecule in an ultraclean carbon nanotube. / Pecker, S.; Kuemmeth, Ferdinand; Secchi, A.; Rontani, M.; Ralph, D.C.; McEuen, P.L.; IIani, S.
In: Nature Physics, Vol. 9, 28.07.2013, p. 576-581.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Observation and spectroscopy of a two-electron Wigner molecule in an ultraclean carbon nanotube
AU - Pecker, S.
AU - Kuemmeth, Ferdinand
AU - Secchi, A.
AU - Rontani, M.
AU - Ralph, D.C.
AU - McEuen, P.L.
AU - IIani, S.
N1 - Preprint available at http://arxiv.org/abs/1302.1877.
PY - 2013/7/28
Y1 - 2013/7/28
N2 - Two electrons on a string form a simple model system where Coulomb interactions are expected to play an interesting role. In the presence of strong interactions, these electrons are predicted to form a Wigner molecule, separating to the ends of the string. This spatial structure is believed to be clearly imprinted on the energy spectrum, yet so far a direct measurement of such a spectrum in a controllable one-dimensional setting is still missing. Here we use an ultraclean carbon nanotube to realize this system in a tunable potential. Using tunnelling spectroscopy we measure the addition spectra of two interacting carriers, electrons or holes, and identify seven low-energy states characterized by their exchange symmetries. The formation of a Wigner molecule is evident from a tenfold quenching of the fundamental excitation energy as compared with the non-interacting value. Our ability to tune the two-carrier state in space and to study it for both electrons and holes provides an unambiguous demonstration of this strongly interacting quantum ground state.
AB - Two electrons on a string form a simple model system where Coulomb interactions are expected to play an interesting role. In the presence of strong interactions, these electrons are predicted to form a Wigner molecule, separating to the ends of the string. This spatial structure is believed to be clearly imprinted on the energy spectrum, yet so far a direct measurement of such a spectrum in a controllable one-dimensional setting is still missing. Here we use an ultraclean carbon nanotube to realize this system in a tunable potential. Using tunnelling spectroscopy we measure the addition spectra of two interacting carriers, electrons or holes, and identify seven low-energy states characterized by their exchange symmetries. The formation of a Wigner molecule is evident from a tenfold quenching of the fundamental excitation energy as compared with the non-interacting value. Our ability to tune the two-carrier state in space and to study it for both electrons and holes provides an unambiguous demonstration of this strongly interacting quantum ground state.
U2 - 10.1038/nphys2692
DO - 10.1038/nphys2692
M3 - Journal article
VL - 9
SP - 576
EP - 581
JO - Nature Physics
JF - Nature Physics
SN - 1745-2473
ER -
ID: 91302444