One-dimensional plasmons in AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wires

Abstract

Quasi-one-dimensional electronic systems have been realized in deep-mesa-etched AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wires. By means of a metallic grating coupler oriented perpendicularly to the wires, we could couple far-infrared radiation to one-dimensional plasmons propagating along the wires. The most prominent feature of the one-dimensional plasmon is a wire-width-dependent negative dispersion in a magnetic field, which is a unique property of edge-plasmon-type oscillations. In addition, we observe a rich spectrum of further modes which arise from the mixing between the one-dimensional plasmon and a charge oscillation perpendicular to the wires.