Assessment of the minimal resistance path calculation technique for highlydisordered 2D multitunnel devices

The Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of 2D geometrical disordered multitunnel ju nction arrays becomes cumbersome, when both array dimensions and temperatur e increase. It is therefore difficult to get statistical information on ele ctrical parameters in the high temperature range. We have shown that a fair estimation of the electrical response of 2D disordered arrays can be obtai ned by taking only its minimal resistance path (MRP). In order to get a fai r agreement with the straightforward MC simulation of the real 2D array, we use the real capacitance matrix to compute the charging energy. The net ga in factor on the simulation time amounts to more than 25 for 5 x 5 arrays. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.