Imaging the Acceptor Wave Function Anisotropy in Silicon

Manuel Siegl; Julian Zanon; Joseph Sink; Adonai Rodrigues da Cruz; Holly Hedgeland; Neil J. Curson; Michael E. Flatté; Steven R. Schofield

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c02675

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Imaging the Acceptor Wave Function Anisotropy in Silicon

Journal article

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Imaging the Acceptor Wave Function Anisotropy in Silicon

Manuel Siegl, Julian Zanon, Joseph Sink, Adonai Rodrigues da Cruz, Holly Hedgeland, Neil J. Curson, Michael E. Flatté and Steven R. Schofield

Nano letters, Vol.25(38), pp.13996-14001

09/24/2025

DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c02675

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Abstract

We present the first scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) image of hydrogenic acceptor wave functions in silicon. These acceptor states appear as square-ring-like features in STM images and originate from near-surface defects introduced by high-energy bismuth implantation into a silicon (001) wafer. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy confirms the formation of a p-type surface. Effective-mass and tight-binding calculations provide an excellent description of the observed square-ring-like features, confirming their acceptor character and attributing their symmetry to the light- and heavy-hole band degeneracy in silicon. A detailed understanding of the energetic and spatial properties of acceptor wave functions in silicon is essential for engineering large-scale acceptor-based quantum devices.

scanning tunneling microscopy

acceptor states

silicon

effective-mass theory

tight binding Green'sfunctions

quantum device engineering

Details

Title: Subtitle: Imaging the Acceptor Wave Function Anisotropy in Silicon
Creators: Manuel Siegl - University College London
Julian Zanon - Eindhoven University of Technology
Joseph Sink - University of Iowa
Adonai Rodrigues da Cruz
Holly Hedgeland - London Centre for Nanotechnology
Neil J. Curson - London Centre for Nanotechnology
Michael E. Flatté - University of Iowa
Steven R. Schofield - London Centre for Nanotechnology
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Nano letters, Vol.25(38), pp.13996-14001
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c02675
ISSN: 1530-6984
eISSN: 1530-6992
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Grant note: Air Force Office of Scientific Research: EP/L002140/1, EP/M009564/1, 956548 Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council: FA9550-24-1-0355 U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research: DE-SC0016379 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences
The authors acknowledge useful conversations with A. J. Fisher, S. K. Clowes, and J. A. Gupta. The STM experiments were financially supported by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L002140/1 and EP/M009564/1), effective-mass simulations by a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant 956548, and TB simulations by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Award FA9550-24-1-0355; code development enabling TB simulations was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Award DE-SC0016379.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 08/21/2025
Date published: 09/24/2025
Academic Unit: Electrical and Computer Engineering; Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984949228002771

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