Current quantization due to single-electron transfer in Si-wire charge-coupled devices

Abstract

We observe a quantized current due to single-electron transfer in a small charge-coupled device, which consists of a narrow Si-wire channel with fine gates; the gate is used to form a tunable barrier potential. By modulating two barrier potentials under the fine gates with phase-shifted pulse voltages, quantized numbers of electrons are injected into and extracted from the charge island sandwiched by the two barriers. Current plateaus due to single-electron transfer are clearly observed at 20 K with frequencies up to 100 MHz and a current level of 16 pA.