Quantum coherent transport in

Meso- and Nanoscopic Systems

Philippe Jacquod
pjacquod@physics.arizona.edu
U of Arizona
General Literature:
Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Systems
S. Datta, Cambridge Unversity Press, 1995
(good, simple introduction)
Introduction to Mesoscopic Physics
Y. Imry, Oxford University Press, 1997
Mesoscopic Physics of Electrons and Photons
E. Akkermans and G. Montambaux, Cambridge University
Press, 2007
(a must if you want to enter the field and plan to stay)
Mesoscopic vs. nanoscopic physics
Nanometer = length scale = 10
-9
m
Nanophysics = physics at the sub-micron length scale
Mesoscopic physics = physics intermediate between
macro and micro
That the human
eye can see
Atomic level
In what sense ?
-> Phase-coherent nature of the electron matters!
Nanoscopic is entirely defined by length scales
Mesoscopic is a regime (in a sense to be defined)
Nanometer = length scale = 10
-9
m
Nanophysics = physics at the sub-micronic length scale
Mesoscopic physics = physics intermediate between
macro and micro
Corollary:
The smallest, cleanest mesoscopic systems fall into
the class of nanoscopic systems
Mesoscopic vs. nanoscopic systems
What is
Mesoscopic Physics ?
system is INCOHERENT (no phase)
use CLASSICAL MECHANICS
V
Conductivity : !=n e "/m
Conductance : G=!W/L
2
Solid-State Physics 101 :
Drude-Boltzmann Theory of Transport
Electrons = point particles ; (charge,mass)=(-e,m)
Metal is disordered uncorrelated collisions at impurities
DIFFUSION
~Ohmic conductor with intensive conductivity
system is INCOHERENT (no phase)
use CLASSICAL MECHANICS
V
Conductivity : !=n e "/m
Conductance : G=!W/L
2
Is this all ? Are there quantum corrections ?
What happens once # is taken into account ?
F
Solid-State Physics 101 :
Drude-Boltzmann Theory of Transport
Electrons = point particles ; (charge,mass)=(-e,m)
Metal is disordered uncorrelated collisions at impurities
DIFFUSION
Mesoscopic Physics - Length Scales
#
l
L L
$
0
L >> L % system is coherent !T-dependent!
% use Quantum Mechanics !
L >># % system is semiclassical
% use small parameter # /L
$
F
F
F
Fermi
Wavelength
Elastic Mean
Free Path
System Size
Coherence
Length
Between microscopic and macroscopic ; N. van Kampen 81
Diffusive systems ~ l << L
Ballistic systems ~ l >L
Some Mesoscopic Systems
Webb 84 Heiblum 97
Kouwenhoven 10
van Wees 08
Marcus 03
What is new in
Mesoscopic Transport ?
Mesoscopic Physics : Novel Anomalous Properties I

Nonlocality:
Details of sample out of direct current path matter!!
See: Washburn and Webb,
Phys. Today 88
Sample-Specicity:

Nonlocality + Sample Specicity:
%Breakdown of Ohms Law
G = ! W/L
%Look at conductance, not conductivity
Same samples, i.e. with same material
& same fabrication, exhibit discrepancies
in transport properties
Mesoscopic Physics : Novel Anomalous Properties II
Dependence on
sample geometry
From: Ford et al., PRL 89
Anomalous Hall Effect
due to underlying
classical dynamics
Mesoscopic Physics : Novel Anomalous Properties III
Mesoscopic Physics : Novel Anomalous Properties IV
Violation of macroscopic/classical symmetries
E.g. Onsager 31:
G(H)=G(-H)
Dependence on measurement set-up
From: Benoit et al., PRL 86
Mesoscopic Physics : Novel Anomalous Properties IV
Kobayashi et al., J. Phys. Soc. Jpn !02
! !
I I I
I
V V V
V
=
Main Novel Fundamental Effects
in
Quantum Coherent Transport
Quantum Corrections to Transport I:
Weak localization
Coherent Mesoscopic Corrections to Transport I:
Weak Localization
Th. : Gorkov, Larkin, Khmelnitskii, JETP Lett. 79
Abrahams, Anderson, Ramakrishnan, PRL 79
Rev.: Bergmann, Phys. Rep. 83; Lee and Ramakrishnan, RMP 85

QM destructive interferences
induce negative corrections
to Drude conductivity

Expansion in # /l

In 2D :
F
Fig. From : van den Dries et al., PRL 81
Coherent Mesoscopic Corrections to Transport I:
Weak Localization - Quasiclassical Picture
A
B
C
!
Break TRS - magnetic eld

!
Probability to be at C:
P(C) ~ |P+P| =2 |P| (1+cos[2&$/$
0
])
2 2
QM interferences disappear = positive magnetoconductance
$
Weak Localization - Quasiclassical Picture
A
B
C
!
Break TRS - magnetic eld

!
Probability to be at C:
P(C) ~ |P+P| =2 |P| (1+cos[2&$/$
0
])
!
Averaging over loop length/ux distribution
2 2
$
(Chang et al., PRL 94)
(Chan et al., PRL 95)
Trademark of Weak Localization - Magnetoresistance
Quantum Corrections to Transport II:
Universal Conductance Fluctuations
Searching for Aharonov-Bohm
oscillations in ring with L<L but...
...about as much flux piercing the
metal than the inside of the ring
Small ring r=140 nm W=45 nm
$
Conductance fluctuations
~reproducible noise
Larger at lower T
Quantum Corrections to Transport III:
Aharonov-Bohm effects
Sharvin and Sharvin 81
~Aharonov-Bohm oscillations
Magnetoresistance
~Aharonov-Bohm oscillations
Measurement sample
diam ~1m, width ~0.04m
Amplitude of oscillations decreases
with increasing temperature
~decoherence/dephasing
Quantum Corrections to Transport III:
Conductance Quantization
[001]
[100]
[010]
two-dimensional
electron gas
(2DEG)
quantum point contact
(QPC)
Quantization plateaux at
multiples of G
0
=2e
2
/h
Gate voltage ~ tunes width of QPC
van Wees et al./Wharam et al. 88
Quantum Corrections to Transport IV:
Coulomb Blockade
Electrons are vertically
Confined to 2DEG
Electrons are laterally
Confined by gates
Average conductance controlled
by tuning opening of contacts
[001]
[100]
[010]
two-dimensional
electron gas
(2DEG)
What is a quantum dot ?
(Marcus lab.,
Harvard)
(Alhassid, RMP 01)
Coherence vs. Complexity:
The Essence of Mesoscopic
Transport
The two-slit experiment (textbook version)
|'|
2
=|'
1
+'
2
|
2
1
2
The two-slit experiment (non-textbook version)
?
The two-slit experiment (non-textbook version)
Regular cavity
Chaotic cavity
"
IS THIS DECOHERENCE ?
"
DO CHAOTIC / COMPLEX SYSTEMS DECOHERE
WHEREAS REGULAR / INTEGRABLE SYSTEMS
DO NOT ?
NO!
It is multiple random scattering
The two-slit experiment (non-textbook version)
Regular cavity
Chaotic cavity
Despite multiple chaotic scattering
the Gaussian envelope still exhibits
(small) modulations !
A.k.a. weak localization