Core-shell quantum dot electron bubbles as exotic ions in superfluid liquid 4He

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2019Source: Physics Letters AAuthor(s): Nabil M. LawandyAbstractA number of experiments in superfluid helium-4 over the past fifty years on the mobility of electron bubbles, which are unique quantum dots in the liquid state, revealed the existence of a “fast” ion and other “exotic” negative ions whose origin and structure still remains unresolved. The fast ion has a mobility which is six times that of the well understood single electron bubble and the other ions span a region from the fast ion mobility to that of the electron bubble. The work presented here shows that a net anionic, two electron, core-shell quantum dot could potentially explain these findings and provide direction for new experimental work. The model described is based on the quantum confinement and stabilization of short-lived shape resonances which originate from anti-bonding orbitals.

Source: Physics Letters A - July 9, 2019 Category: Physics Source Type: research