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Quantum Transport and Dynamics of Phonons in Mesoscopic Systems

Citation

Santamore, Deborah Hannah (2003) Quantum Transport and Dynamics of Phonons in Mesoscopic Systems. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/E62V-PR26. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-05272003-152136

Abstract

Recent advances in nanotechnology have shrunk the size of mesoscopic structures. This allows us to investigate the quantum mechanics of mechanical oscillators. In this thesis we focus on two aspects.

In Part I, an individual discrete mode structure of an oscillator and its effect to thermal conductance have been thoroughly examined: Specifically, we investigated the reduction in the thermal conductance in the quantum limit due to phonon scattering by surface roughness, first using scalar waves, then using full three dimensional elasticity theory for an elastic beam with a rectangular cross section. At low frequencies, we find power laws for the scattering coefficients that are strongly mode dependent, and different from the results deriving from Rayleigh scattering of scalar waves, that is often assumed. The scattering gives temperature dependent contributions to the reduction in thermal conductance with the same power laws. At higher frequencies, the scattering coefficient becomes large at the onset frequency of each mode due to the flat dispersion. We use our results to attempt a quantitative understanding of the suppression of the thermal conductance from the universal value observed in experiment.

As individual phonon energy becomes comparable to or greater than the thermal energy, the individual phonon dynamics within each mode can be resolved. In Part II, we examine a possibility of detecting individual quanta of a system: We investigate a scheme that makes a quantum non-demolition measurement of the excitation level of a mesoscopic mechanical oscillator by utilizing the anharmonic coupling between two bending modes of an elastic beam. The non-linear coupling between the two modes shifts the resonant frequency of the readout oscillator proportionate to the excitation of the system oscillator. This frequency shift may be detected as a phase shift of the readout oscillation when driven on resonance. We show that in an appropriate regime this measurement approaches a quantum non-demolition measurement of the phonon number of the system oscillator. As a result it should be possible to monitor jumps between Fock states caused by the coupling of the system to the thermal reservoirs.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:quantum information; quantum nondemolition measurement; stochastic differential equation; surface scattering; universal thermal conductance
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Applied Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Cross, Michael Clifford
Thesis Committee:
  • Cross, Michael Clifford (chair)
  • Goodstein, David L.
  • Milburn, Gerard
  • Thorne, Kip S.
  • Bockrath, Marc William
  • Roukes, Michael Lee
  • Leggett, Tony
Defense Date:23 May 2003
Non-Caltech Author Email:dsantamore (AT) desu.edu@desu.edu
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-05272003-152136
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-05272003-152136
DOI:10.7907/E62V-PR26
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Santamore, Deborah Hannah0000-0001-6305-7096
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:2123
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:30 May 2003
Last Modified:13 May 2021 22:53

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