Eur. Phys. J. B 55, 261-270 (2007)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2007-00052-4

Magnetization of ballistic quantum dots induced by a linear-polarized microwave field

¹ École Normale Supérieure, 45, rue d'Ulm, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
² Laboratoire de Physique Théorique, UMR 5152 du CNRS, Univ. P. Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 4, France

Received: 25 October 2006
Published online: 21 February 2007

Abstract

On a basis of extensive analytical and numerical studies we show that a linear-polarized microwave field creates a stationary magnetization in mesoscopic ballistic quantum dots with two-dimensional electron gas being at a thermal equilibrium. The magnetization is proportional to a number of electrons in a dot and to a microwave power. Microwave fields of moderate strength create in a one dot of few micron size a magnetization which is by few orders of magnitude larger than a magnetization produced by persistent currents. The effect is weakly dependent on temperature and can be observed with existing experimental techniques. The parallels between this effect and ratchets in asymmetric nanostructures are also discussed.