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Interaction-induced magnetic field asymmetry of nonlinear mesoscopic electrical transport

ContributorsButtiker, Markus
Published inInternational journal of quantum chemistry, vol. 105, no. 6, p. 906-913
Publication date2005
Abstract

We demonstrate that the nonlinear I-V characteristics of a two-probe conductor are not an even function of a magnetic field. While the conductance of a two-probe conductor is even in a magnetic field, we find that alreadythe contributions to the current that are second order in voltage, are in general not even. This implies a departure from the Onsager microreversibility principle in the weakly nonlinear regime. Interestingly, the effect that we find is due to the Coulomb interaction. A measurement of magnetic-field asymmetry can be used to determine the effective interaction strength. As a generic example, we discuss the I-V characteristics of a chaotic quantum dot. The ensemble averaged I-V of such a cavity is linear: nonlinearities are due to quantum interference. Consequently, phase-breaking reduces the asymmetry. We support this statement with a calculation that treats inelastic scattering with the help of a voltage probe.

Keywords
  • Reciprocity
  • Scattering theory
  • Magneto-conductance
  • Dephasing
Citation (ISO format)
BUTTIKER, Markus. Interaction-induced magnetic field asymmetry of nonlinear mesoscopic electrical transport. In: International journal of quantum chemistry, 2005, vol. 105, n° 6, p. 906–913. doi: 10.1002/qua.20743
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ISSN of the journal0020-7608
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