Development in the Scattering Matrix Theory: From Spin-Orbit-Coupling Affected Shot Noise to Quantum Pumping

Abstract

The review chapter starts by a pedagogical introduction to the general concept of the scattering theory: from the fundamental wave-function picture to the second-quantization language, with the aim to clear possible ambiguity in conventional textbooks. Recent progress in applying the method to current fluctuations and oscillating-parameter driven quantum pumping processes is presented with inclusion of contributions by B\"{u}ttiker, Brouwer, Moskalets, Zhu, etc. In particular, the spin-orbit-coupling affected shot noise can be dealt with by taking into account the spin-dependent scattering processes. A large shot noise suppression with the Fano factor below 0.5 observed experimentally can be illustrated by effective repulsion between electrons with antiparallel spin induced by the Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling effect. A Floquet scattering theory for quantum-mechanical pumping in mesoscopic conductors is developed by Moskalets et al., which gives a general picture of quantum pumping phenomenon, from adiabatic to non-adiabatic and from weak pumping to strong pumping.