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Nanowires with surface disorder: giant localization lengths and quantum-to-classical crossover
J Feist1, A Bäcker, R Ketzmerick
1Institute for Theoretical Physics, Vienna University of Technology, 1040 Vienna, Austria. johannes.feist@tuwien.ac.at
Physical Review Letters
|October 10, 2006
Summary
We found that a magnetic field causes quantum transport in nanowires to become more classical-like. This occurs due to tunneling between regular and chaotic parts of the system, increasing localization lengths.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Quantum mechanics
- Mesoscopic physics
Background:
- Surface roughness in nanowires affects electronic quantum transport.
- Understanding the transition from quantum to classical behavior is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate electronic quantum transport in nanowires with one-sided surface roughness.
- To analyze the effect of a perpendicular magnetic field on localization lengths.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical investigation of quantum transport.
- Analysis of systems with one-sided surface roughness.
- Application of a perpendicular magnetic field.
Main Results:
- A perpendicular magnetic field leads to exponentially diverging localization lengths.
- This divergence occurs in the quantum-to-classical crossover regime.
- The effect is explained by tunneling between regular and chaotic classical phase space components.
Conclusions:
- Surface roughness and magnetic fields significantly influence quantum transport in nanowires.
- Tunneling plays a key role in the quantum-to-classical transition.
- The findings provide insights into electron behavior in disordered mesoscopic systems.
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