EXCHANGE EFFECT IN COUPLED ONE-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON-GAS SYSTEMS

An exchange effect in one-dimensional quantum-wire electron-gas systems is investigated. The theoretical study presented shows that the electron population of a symmetrical structure consisting of two parallel quantum wires in close proximity may exhibit bistability with all electrons contained in one of the quantum wires. Compared to a similar effect in a two-dimensional system reported earlier, the excitation energy associated with the transfer of one electron is found to be much larger. For certain configurations, this energy can be as large as approximately 50 meV. The theory predicts the exchange-induced bistability to exist in realistic configurations, and it may possibly be used in practical electronic devices such as memory elements.