Polaron effects in electron channels on a helium film

Abstract

Using the Feynman path-integral formalism we study the polaron effects in quantum wires above a liquid helium film. The electron interacts with two-dimensional (2D) surface phonons, i.e. ripplons, and is confined in one dimension (1D) by an harmonic potential. The obtained results are valid for arbitrary temperature ($T$), electron-phonon coupling strength ($\alpha$), and lateral confinement (${\omega }_0$). Analytical and numerical results are obtained for limiting cases of $T$, $\alpha$, and ${\omega }_0$. We found the surprising result that reducing the electron motion from 2D to quasi-1D makes the self-trapping transition more continuous.

arXiv comment6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B