EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FLUCTUATIONS ON ELECTRON-TRANSPORT IN QUANTUM WIRES

We study electron transport through a multi-mode quantum wire with sma ll localized potential inhomogeneities in the framework of a microscop ic approach. We find that due to electromagnetic fluctuations the cond uctance per mode decreases below the universal value 2e(2)/h although it remains finite. Simultaneously, the I-V characteristic of the wire shows nonlinearity. Both effects manifest a coexistence of elastic and inelastic channels of electron transport. Quantitatively, the electro magnetic fluctuations can be characterized by an effective impedance w hich shows a quadratic dispersion at low frequencies,Re Z(eff)(omega) proportional to omega(2).