Ballistic electron emission microscopy on quantum wires

In this paper ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM) studies on quantum wire structures are reported. Ln these experiments the quantum wires are directly observed both in sample topography and the BEEM current images. Especially at liquid helium temperatures, the BEEM current is found to be enhanced if the ballistic electrons are injected directly into the wire region. In the etched areas between the wires. the effective surface barrier height is found to be larger than on the wires. From the low temperature BEEM spectra we conclude, that diffusive scattering processes dominate the carrier transport across the Au/GaAs interface.