title: Self-referenced single-electron quantized current source.
abstract: The future redefinition of the international system of units in terms of natural constants requires a robust, high-precision quantum standard for the electrical base unit ampere. However, the reliability of any single-electron current source generating a nominally quantized output current I=ef by delivering single electrons with charge e at a frequency f is eventually limited by the stochastic nature of the underlying quantum mechanical tunneling process. We experimentally explore a path to overcome this fundamental limitation by serially connecting clocked single-electron emitters with multiple in situ single-electron detectors. Correlation analysis of the detector signatures during current generation reveals erroneous pumping events and enables us to determine the deviation of the output current from the nominal quantized value ef. This demonstrates the concept of a self-referenced single-electron source for electrical quantum metrology.
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fricke
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wulf
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaestner
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hohls
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mirovsky
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mackrodt
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dolata
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weimann
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pierz
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siegner
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Schumacher