Phys. Rev. B 68, 033308 (2003) [4 pages]Electron-density stratification in two-dimensional structures tuned by an electric fieldReceived 17 April 2003; published 17 July 2003 We describe a kinetic instability mechanism which leads to electron-density stratification. The spatial period of the arising space-charge and field configuration is found to be inversely proportional to the electric field and can be tuned by applied voltage. The instability has no interpretation in the framework of a traditional hydrodynamic approach, since it arises from the modulation of the electron distribution function in both the coordinate and energy space. The phenomenon can be observed in two-dimensional nanostructures at relatively low electron densities. © 2003 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.68.033308
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevB.68.033308
PACS:
73.50.Fq, 71.45.Lr, 72.30.+q, 73.21.Fg
|
|
About | Terms and Conditions | Subscriptions | Search | Help
Use of the American Physical Society websites and journals implies that the user has read and agrees to our Terms and Conditions and any applicable Subscription Agreement. Physical Review®, Physical Review Letters®, Reviews of Modern Physics®, and Physical Review Special Topics® are trademarks of the American Physical Society.