Semiconductor Physics Group
Semiconductor Physics Group, Cavendish Laboratory
Professor Charles G. SmithE-mail: cgs4@cam.ac.ukOffice phone number: +44 (0)1223 337483 Fax: +44 (0)1223 337271 Group Secretary: +44 (0)1223 337482 Office: Room 458 Mott Address:
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Research interests:
Quantum computation in semiconductor devices
Work on the first semiconductor quantum-dot devices was published by the Semiconductor Physics group in 1983 [1]. These devices now form the building blocks for many ideas for realizing quantum information processing architectures. We were also the first group to develop a technique for measuring single electron movement in and out of a semiconductor quantum dot [2, 3]. This technique is regularly proposed for the readout mechanism for quantum computational devices. For quantum computation to become a reality, it is essential that dephasing from the surrounding environment can be reduced to a minimum. We have been investigating dephasing in single [4] and coupled quantum dots strongly electrically isolated from the environment [5] where electron-electron scattering from co-tunnelling events are greatly reduced. We have recently demonstrated that when two pairs of quantum dots are placed next to each other, when we polarize the first pair of dots by moving a single electron from one dot to its neighbour, the resulting dipole field can be used to polarize the next double dot pair. Such a structure forms the basis of a quantum cellular automata computing architecture [6].
Imaging and probing quantum phenomena using novel low temperature probes
Over the past ten years we have built up a unique low temperature scanning probe. A conducting atomic force microscope tip can be placed with nm accuracy anywhere on a 1 mm by 1mm area at 100 mK temperatures and in magnetic fields up to 10 Tesla. We use the tip like a scanning gate to modify the behaviour of sub-micron devices. The images we create come from the change in conductance of the sub-micron devices as a function of the tip position. We have used this technique to image the probability densities for electrons in a 1D ballistic channel [7]. Recently we were able to demonstrate that we could use the tip to deposit charge on a semiconductor device at low temperatures. The charge was very stable over time and was used to deplete out a conducting layer bellow the surface enabling current paths to be defined at low temperatures. Later we could remove the charge either with the tip or by illuminating with a red LED [8]. We were then able to draw a different quantum structure. We call this technique Erasable Electrostatic Lithography. This will become an extremely important tool for rapidly prototyping quantum devices for quantum information processing.
Investigating the physics of nano-MEMS devices
I started my research by initiating investigation into quantization of 1D phonons in sub-micron free-standing wires [9]. During this time I started exploring the properties of sub-micron MEMS devices [10], research which later resulted in the generation of IP and the formation of the spin out company, Cavendish kinetics Ltd. (www.cavendish-kinetics.com) [11].
Spin injection in semiconductors
We have pioneered research on transport effects resulting from injection of spin polarized electrons into semiconductor devices. In this work we observed changes in resistance of an InAs quantum well with two ferromagnetic contacts having different coercive fields [12]. Many quantum computation proposals involve controlling electron spin in semiconductor devices.
Carbon nanotubes and graphene
We are working on a project funded by the QIP IRC with the aim of demonstrating entanglement in doped carbon nanotube material. We have also investigating the use of surface acoustic waves (SAW) combined with carbon nanotubes to investigate whether such structures can be used to produce a current standard. We have pioneered using SAW technology to drag single electrons through ballistic 1D channels to generate a well defined current I=ef, where f is the SAW frequencies [13]. The greater quantum confinement in a carbon nanotube should make this process more accurate. We starting to investigating the electron transport properties of graphene funded under a European grant. The aim is to investigate how narrow ribbons of graphene behave using our low temperature scanning probe.
Laboratory on a chip micro-fluidic pumping
We have developed a novel technique for pumping fluids in narrow channels using a low voltage alternating signal applied to two patterned electrodes. This technology has led to the formation of the spin out company Cambridge Lab on Chip Ltd. We are investigating the physical origin of this effect, which has many applications in the growing field of micro-fluidic pumping and mixing [14, 15].
Self assembly
We have been studying how you can use semiconductor processing techniques to make micron sized colloidal particles with different shapes or material make up. These particles are then floated off into solution and we investigate how they coalesce [16]. By changing the shape and surface chemistry we will try to assemble sub-micron semiconductor devices into a three-dimensional lattice.
I have over 130 publications and 11 patents
Selected Publications
1. C. G. Smith, M. Pepper, H. Ahmed J. E. Frost, D. G. Hasko, D. C.
Peacock, D. A. Ritchie, G. A. C. Jones, J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 21, L893, (1988)
"The Transition From One- to Zero-Dimensional Ballistic Transport"
2. M. Field, C. G. Smith, M. Pepper, D. A. Ritchie, J. E. F. Frost, G. A. C. Jones, D. G. Hasko. Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 1311, (1993)
"Measurement of Coulomb Blockade with a Non-Invasive Voltage Probe"
3. M. Field, C. G. Smith, M. Pepper, K. M. Brown, E. H. Linfield, M.
P. Grimshaw, D. A. Ritchie and G. A. C. Jones, Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 350 (1996)
"Coulomb Blockade as a Noninvasive Probe of the Local Density of States"
4. J. Cooper, C. G. Smith, D. A. Ritchie, E. H. Linfield, Y. Jin, H. Launois, Physica E, 6, 457 (2000)
"Direct observation of single-electron decay from an artificial nucleus"
5. S. Gardelis, C. G. Smith, J. Cooper, D. A. Ritchie, E. H. Linfield, Y. Jin, and M. Pepper, Phys. Rev. B 67, 073302 (2003)
"Dephasing in an isolated double-quantum-dot system deduced from single-electron polarization measurements"
6. S. Gardelis, C. G. Smith, J. Cooper, D. A. Ritchie, E. H. Linfield, and Y. Jin, Phys. Rev. B 67, 033302 (2003
"Evidence for transfer of polarization in a quantum dot cellular automata cell consisting of semiconductor quantum dots"
F. Perez-Martinez, I Farrer, D. Anderson, G.A.C. Jones, D. A. Ritchie, S. J. Chorley, and C. G. Smith 2007, Appl. Phys. Lett 91 032102 (2007)
"Demonstration of a quantum cellular automata cell in a GaAs/GaAlAs heterostructure"
7. R Crook, C. G. Smith, M. Y. Simons, D. A. Ritchie J. Phys. Condense. Matter (2000) 12, L735-L740.
"1D probability density observed using scanned gate microscopy"
8. R. Crook, A. C. Graham, C. G. Smith, I. Farrer, H. E. Beere, D. A. Ritchie. NATURE424 (6950): 751-754 AUG 14 2003
"Erasable electrostatic lithography for quantum components"
9. C. G. Smith and M. N. Wybourne, Solid State Comm. 57, 411, (1986)
"Electric Field Heating in Supported and Free-Standing AuPd Fine Wires"
10. D. G. Hasko, C. G. Smith, J. K. Lucek, J. R. A. Cleaver and H Ahmed, Microelectron. Eng. 9, 337 (1989)
"Fabrication and electrical , mechanical and thermal properties of sub-micron free-standing devices"
11. W. H. Teh, C. G. Smith, T. K. B Teo, R. G. Lacerda, G. A. J.
Amaratunga, W. L. Milne, M. Castignolles, A. Loiseau. BOSTON
TRANSDUCERS'03: DIGEST OF TECHNICAL PAPERS, VOLS 1 AND 2: 190-193 2003
"Uniform patterned synthesis of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes on low-stress micromechanical structures"
12. S. Gardelis, C. G. Smith, C. H. W. Barnes, E. H. Linfield, and D. A. Ritchie, Phys. Rev. B 60, 7764-7767 (1999)
"Spin-valve effects in a semiconductor field-effect transistor"
13. J. N. Shilton, V. I. Talyanskii, M. Pepper, D. A. Ritchie, J. E.
F. Frost, C. J. B. Ford, C. G. Smith, and G. A. C. Jones J. Phys. C. 8, L531-L539 (1996)
"Single electron transport in a quasi one-dimensional GaAs channel induced by high frequency surface acoustic waves"
14. A. B. D. Brown, C. G. Smith, A. R. Rennie Phys. Rev. E 63 (2001) 016305
"Pumping of water with an ac electric field applied to asymmetric pairs of microelectrodes"
15. M. Mpholo, C. G. Smith, A. B. D. Brown Sensors and Actuators B 92, 262-268 (2003)
"Low voltage plug flow pumping using electrode arrays"
16. A. B. D. Brown, C. G. Smith, A. R. Rennie Phys. Rev. E 62, 951-960 (2000)
"Fabricating colloidal particles with photolithography and their interactions at an air-water interface"