Interedge backscattering in buried split-gate-defined graphene quantum point contacts

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.94.155446
• Publication Date: 2016-10-28T18:08:33Z
• Authors: Shaohua Xiang; Alina Mreńca-Kola...; Vaidotas Miseikis; Stefano Guiducci; Krzysztof Kolasiński; Camilla Coletti; Bartłomiej Szafran; Fabio Beltram; Stefano Roddaro; Stefan Heun
• Keywords: ---; Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics; 0103 physical sciences; Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall); FOS: Physical sciences; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 01 natural sciences

Quantum Hall effects offer a formidable playground for the investigation of quantum transport phenomena. Edge modes can be detected, branched, and mixed by designing a suitable potential landscape in a two-dimensional conducting system subject to a strong magnetic field. In the present work, we demonstrate a buried split-gate architecture and use it to control electron conduction in large-scale single-crystal monolayer graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition. The control of the edge trajectories is demonstrated by the observation of various fractional quantum resistances, as a result of a controllable inter-edge scattering. Experimental data are successfully modeled both numerically and within the Landauer-Buettiker formalism. Our architecture is particularly promising and unique in view of the investigation of quantum transport via scanning probe microscopy, since graphene constitutes the topmost layer of the device. For this reason, it can be approached and perturbed by a scanning probe down to the limit of mechanical contact.