Electron hydrodynamics and Bernoulli effect in Venturi-shaped two-dimensional systems
Phys. Rev. B 114, 045305 – Published 27 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/vcj7-cyll
Abstract
The study of electron hydrodynamics provides a powerful framework for understanding transport in ultraclean conductors, yet experimental evidence has thus far been largely restricted to the linear response regime. Here, we report the direct observation of a strongly nonlinear transport regime in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron system. By engineering devices in a Venturi-shaped (wedge) geometry specifically designed to enhance convective nonlinearities, we uncover a pronounced nonlinear voltage response and a large diodicity in the current-voltage characteristics. Our experimental findings show quantitative agreement with a theoretical model that attributes the observed nonlinearity to the convective acceleration of the electron fluid, analogous to the Bernoulli effect. These results provide compelling evidence for the applicability of the hydrodynamic framework to electron transport in two dimensions and open avenues for exploring nonlinear and preturbulent phenomena in solid-state systems.
