Quasi-particle Tunneling Through a Barrier in the Fractional Quantum Hall Regime

Abstract

Tunneling of fractionally charged quasi-particles (QPs) through a barrier is considered in the context of a multiply connected geometry. In this geometry global constraints do not prohibit such a tunneling process. The tunneling amplitude is evaluated and the crossover from mesoscopic QP-dominated to electron-dominated tunneling as the system's size is increased is found. The presence of disorder enhances both electron and QP tunneling rates.