Coherent electron-phonon coupling in tailored quantum systems

Abstract

The coupling between a two-level system and its environment leads to decoherence. Within the context of coherent manipulation of electronic or quasiparticle states in nanostructures, it is crucial to understand the sources of decoherence. Here we study the effect of electron-phonon coupling in a graphene and an InAs nanowire double quantum dot (DQD). Our measurements reveal oscillations of the DQD current periodic in energy detuning between the two levels. These periodic peaks are more pronounced in the nanowire than in graphene, and disappear when the temperature is increased. We attribute the oscillations to an interference effect between two alternative inelastic decay paths involving acoustic phonons present in these materials. This interpretation predicts the oscillations to wash out when temperature is increased, as observed experimentally. © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.