Photon-Stimulated Transport in a Quantum Point Contact (Brief Review)

Studies of photon-stimulated transport through a quantum point contact based on a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas in a GaAs quantum well are reviewed. This review includes a brief historical introduction, experimental results on giant terahertz and microwave photoconductance of the quantum point contact in the tunneling regime, and the analysis of its behavior within a developed theoretical model of photon-stimulated tunneling. Prospects of further studies and production of a new class of terahertz and microwave detectors are discussed in closing.