Electron Transport via Surface Acoustic Waves

Electrons trapped and transported via surface acoustic waves (SAW) have been proposed as a possible implementation of quantum computation in the literature. However, if we are to achieve a level of precision required in a reliable and efficient quantum computer, we need to determine the characteristics of transport dynamics as precisely as possible. In this paper we present a detailed study of the electron transport process using a novel theoretical model in terms of Fermi wave packets. We investigate closely the role played by quantum mechanical processes in the transport dynamics. We also present a simple method for estimating the expected transmission spectra, based on the minimum depth of the moving SAW dot and the energy distribution of the system.