Resonant phenomena in a microchannel-confined Wigner solid*

Collective excitations of an electron solid on the surface of liquid helium coupled to a bosonic field of surface capillary waves (ripplons) manifest in pronounced radio-frequency (RF) resonances that are detectable via transport. Theses coupled plasmon-ripplon resonances are modified in the presence of strong transversal confinement of the electron system, which can be realized in microchannel devices. We present new experimental results on the resonant response of electrons on helium confined in a single microchannel device and subjected to RF irradiation. The RF excitation causes heating of the electron system, which leads to a weakening of the Bragg-Cherenkov mobility limit. Additionally, we find that the nonlinear electron transport is modulated by the RF driving field and gives rise to a series of new resonant features. The origin of these resonances will be discussed. Understanding of the electron-ripplon dynamics and decoherence mechanisms in these hybrid devices will be essential for quantum information processing with electrons on helium.