The scale of this experiment is pretty big in quantum terms, so a semi-classical explanation is not inaccurate. The electron is behaving like water filling a bowl. The height of the bowl floor represents how much potential energy the electron needs to reach that point in space.
Suppose that the bowl is invisible, and detailed knowledge of its shape is of scientific interest for one reason or another. Here, it's interesting because they want to fine-tune their ability to spatially and electromagnetically control individual electrons so that they can explore "spintronics".
One way to measure the shape of the bowl is to measure the shape of the electron "fluid" filling the bowl. They've developed some technique for doing that. I haven't read the details.
That only gives you information about the bottommost part of the bowl, where the fluid lies. By applying voltages to the electrodes, the authors can raise the potential energy needed for the electron to hang out at one end of the bowl relative to the other. This effectively tips the bowl, and the electron "fluid" re-distributes itself, allowing them to measure the shape of the bowl at locations other than the bottom.
That's all I get from the article. You'd have to read the linked original paper to learn more. A traditional undergraduate series in classical mechanics, electromagnetics, waves, and quantum mechanics is very helpful, but cutting-edge research is never communicated in the same terms that are used in undergraduate teaching. There are going to be some jargon barriers no matter what. Happy reading!
Suppose that the bowl is invisible, and detailed knowledge of its shape is of scientific interest for one reason or another. Here, it's interesting because they want to fine-tune their ability to spatially and electromagnetically control individual electrons so that they can explore "spintronics".
One way to measure the shape of the bowl is to measure the shape of the electron "fluid" filling the bowl. They've developed some technique for doing that. I haven't read the details.
That only gives you information about the bottommost part of the bowl, where the fluid lies. By applying voltages to the electrodes, the authors can raise the potential energy needed for the electron to hang out at one end of the bowl relative to the other. This effectively tips the bowl, and the electron "fluid" re-distributes itself, allowing them to measure the shape of the bowl at locations other than the bottom.
That's all I get from the article. You'd have to read the linked original paper to learn more. A traditional undergraduate series in classical mechanics, electromagnetics, waves, and quantum mechanics is very helpful, but cutting-edge research is never communicated in the same terms that are used in undergraduate teaching. There are going to be some jargon barriers no matter what. Happy reading!