INTRINSIC DECOHERENCE AND LOSS OF FERMI-LIQUID BEHAVIOR IN MESOSCOPICSYSTEMS

Citation
Ra. Webb et al., INTRINSIC DECOHERENCE AND LOSS OF FERMI-LIQUID BEHAVIOR IN MESOSCOPICSYSTEMS, Fortschritte der Physik (Berlin. Wiley-VCH), 46(6-8), 1998, pp. 779-789
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
ISSN journal
00158208
Volume
46
Issue
6-8
Year of publication
1998
Pages
779 - 789
Database
ISI
SICI code
0015-8208(1998)46:6-8<779:IDALOF>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
We present measurements of the phase coherence time tau(phi), and elec tron-electron energy relaxation time tau(ee) in mesoscopic Au wires an d clearly show that both become temperature independent at low tempera tures. We show that magnetic impurities are not responsible for the ob served saturations and that the spin-flip scattering time shows an unu sual growth with decreasing temperature. All these observations are si gnatures of the breakdown of the Fermi liquid theory of electron-elect ron interaction in diffusive systems. We propose that zero-point fluct uations of the environment of the phase coherent electrons are respons ible for the observed saturation of tau(phi) and introduce a new funct ional form for the temperature dependence and present the results of a calculation for the saturation value of tau(phi). This explains the o bserved temperature dependence of most 1D and 2D systems reported to d ate.