Charge carrier interference in modulated quantum wires

Quantized conductance as a function of the charge carrier energy in modulat ed quantum wires is investigated for the first time. The energy dependence of the coefficient of transit through a modulated quantum wire was calculat ed, with the delta-potential approximation used to describe the charge carr ier quantum interference in the system of ultrasteep internal barriers. The current steps and oscillations in the quantized conductance plateaus, obse rvable as the oscillating features in the quantum wire conductance under va rying longitudinal voltage, are predicted. Such oscillations, resulting fro m the quantum interference of the ballistic holes, are observed experimenta lly for the first time by recording quantized conductance plateaus as a fun ction of the voltage applied along the silicon modulated quantum wire. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".