Non-linear conductance of disordered quantum wires

The self-consistent electron potential in a current-carrying disordered qua ntum wire is spatially inhomogeneous due to the formation of resistivity di poles across scattering centres. In this paper it is argued that these inho mogeneities in the potential result in a suppression of the differential co nductance of such a wire at finite applied voltage. A semi-classical argume nt allows this suppression, quadratic in the voltage, to be related directl y to the amount of intrinsic defect scattering in the wire. This result is then tested against numerical calculations.