Time-dependent transport in Aharonov-Bohm interferometers

Abstract

A numerical approach is employed to explain transport characteristics in realistic, quantum Hall based Aharonov-Bohm interferometers. First, the spatial distribution of incompressible strips, and thus the current channels, are obtained applying a self-consistent Thomas-Fermi method to a realistic heterostructure under quantized Hall conditions. Second, the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation is solved for electrons injected in the current channels. Distinctive Aharonov-Bohm oscillations are found as a function of the magnetic flux. The oscillation amplitude strongly depends on the mutual distance between the transport channels and on their width. At an optimal distance the amplitude and thus the interchannel transport is maximized, which determines the maximum visibility condition. On the other hand, the transport is fully suppressed at magnetic fields corresponding to half-integer flux quanta. The results confirm the applicability of realistic Aharonov-Bohm interferometers as controllable current switches.