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Title: Analysis of Scanned Probe Images for Magnetic Focusing in Graphene

Journal Article · · Journal of Electronic Materials

We have used cooled scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to study electron motion in nanoscale devices. The charged tip of the microscope was raster-scanned at constant height above the surface as the conductance of the device was measured. The image charge scatters electrons away, changing the path of electrons through the sample. Using this technique, we imaged cyclotron orbits that flow between two narrow contacts in the magnetic focusing regime for ballistic hBN–graphene–hBN devices. We present herein an analysis of our magnetic focusing imaging results based on the effects of the tip-created charge density dip on the motion of ballistic electrons. The density dip locally reduces the Fermi energy, creating a force that pushes electrons away from the tip. When the tip is above the cyclotron orbit, electrons are deflected away from the receiving contact, creating an image by reducing the transmission between contacts. The data and our analysis suggest that the graphene edge is rather rough, and electrons scattering off the edge bounce in random directions. However, when the tip is close to the edge, it can enhance transmission by bouncing electrons away from the edge, toward the receiving contact. Our results demonstrate that cooled SPM is a promising tool to investigate the motion of electrons in ballistic graphene devices.

Research Organization:
Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-07ER46422; FA9550-13-1-0211
OSTI ID:
1344318
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1423801
Journal Information:
Journal of Electronic Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Electronic Materials Vol. 46 Journal Issue: 7; ISSN 0361-5235
Publisher:
Springer Science + Business MediaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 3 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (9)

The electronic properties of graphene journal January 2009
Imaging a one-electron InAs quantum dot in an InAs/InP nanowire journal June 2008
Imaging Coherent Electron Flow from a Quantum Point Contact journal September 2000
Imaging magnetic focusing of coherent electron waves journal June 2007
Imaging a Single-Electron Quantum Dot journal February 2005
Imaging Cyclotron Orbits of Electrons in Graphene journal February 2016
Photon-Assisted Tunneling in a Carbon Nanotube Quantum Dot journal February 2007
The Band Theory of Graphite journal May 1947
The rise of graphene journal March 2007

Cited By (3)

Scanning gate microscopy of magnetic focusing in graphene devices: quantum versus classical simulation journal April 2017
Imaging electron flow from collimating contacts in graphene journal March 2018
Quantum imaging of current flow in graphene journal April 2017

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