Two-Parameter Scaling of Microwave Rectification vs Microwave Power at the Boundary between Two-Dimensional Electron Systems

Abstract

We report measurements of the rectification of microwave radiation (0.7-20 GHz) at the boundary between two-dimensional electron systems separated by a narrow gap on a silicon surface for different temperatures, electron densities and microwave power. For frequencies above 4 GHz and different temperatures, the rectified voltage V_{dc} as a function of microwave power P can be scaled onto a single universal curve V*_{dc}=f*(P*). The scaled voltage is a linear function of power, V*_{dc} ~ P* for small power and proportional to P*^{1/2} at higher power. A theory is proposed that attributes the rectification to the thermoelectric response due to strong local overheating by the microwave radiation at the boundary between two dissimilar 2D metals. Excellent agreement is obtained between theory and experiment.