Condensed Matter Physics Seminar

Brave 'new' Quantum Nano-world

Guillaume Gervais
McGill University

Time
Wed. October 11, 2006     10:30 AM     Stirling 501

Abstract

In recent years, the electronic properties of low-dimensional structures such as electrons trapped in quantum wells (2D), flowing in a quantum wire (1D) or forming a quantum dot (0D) have drawn a high-level of interest for both fundamental aspects and promising device applications. As the temperature of the electrons present in these structures is reduced toward very near absolute zero, totally new properties emerge from a competition occurring between many-body electron-electron interactions, disorder, and fluctuations. Examples of interest include 'bizarre' phenomena such as the fractionalization of charge excitations in 2D, or entanglement of quantum states in coupled quantum dot structures. These phenomena cannot be understood in terms of classical or Boltzmann physics; they are the result of the subtle mechanics that emerge when quantum particles interact. In this talk, I will show recent results on the physics of two-dimensional electrons by means of unorthodox magnetic resonances performed with "too few spins". I will also discuss how we can obtain truly quantitative information on the possible existence of non-abelian quantum statistics that may occur in 2D, and introduce you to a new research effort that I call "quantum nanofluidics" where the goal is to create totally new state of quantum fluid matter. This brave 'new' T=0 nano-world isn't just small, it might be quite interesting too!

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