Search

We report on the successful synthesis and low-temperature electron transport investigations of a new form of material - Bi2O2Se semiconducting nanowires. Gate-tunable 0- and $\pi$-h/e (h is the Planck constant and e the elementary charge) periodic resistance oscillations in longitudinal magnetic field were observed unexpectedly, demonstrating novel quasi-ballistic, phase-coherent surface states in Bi2O2Se nanowires. By reaching a very good agreement between the calculated density of states and the experimental data, we clarified the mechanism to be the one dimensional subbands formed along the circumference of the nanowire rather than the usually considered Aharonov-Bohm interference. A qualitative physical picture based on downward band bending associated with the complex band structure is proposed to describe the formation of the surface states., Comment: Corrected errors in calculations. Accepted by PRB

Electrical control of spin dynamics in Bi$_{\rm 2}$Se$_{\rm 3}$ was investigated in ring-type interferometers. Aharonov-Bohm and Altshuler-Aronov-Spivak resistance oscillations against magnetic field, and Aharorov-Casher resistance oscillations against gate voltage were observed in the presence of a Berry phase of $\pi$. A very large tunability of spin precession angle by gate voltage has been obtained, indicating that Bi$_{\rm 2}$Se$_{\rm 3}$-related materials with strong spin-orbit coupling are promising candidates for constructing novel spintronic devices., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

We experimentally study the electrical transport properties of Ge/Si core/shell nanowire device with two superconducting leads in the Coulomb blockade regime. Anomalous zero field magnetoconductance peaks are observed for the first time at the gate voltages where Coulomb blockade oscillation peaks present. Many evidences indicate this feature is due to Andreev reflection enhanced phase coherent single hole tunneling through the quantum dot, which can be suppressed by an external magnetic field without destroying the superconducting states in the electrodes., 10 pages, 5 figures