Abstract

We have fabricated and characterized zero gap couplers for electron waves. These couplers behave analogously to integrated optical zero gap couplers. This analogy is due to the wave-like behavior of electrons when they are quantum confined in two dimensions and their phase information is preserved. Such behavior is first observed in electron waveguides[l], [2]. The successful operation of these devices prompted the proposal of other novel devices taking parallel from integrated optics and exploiting the wave nature of electrons [3]. We report here the first successful operation of a novel device using electron waveguides--a zero gap coupler.

© 1993 Optical Society of America