Elastic Scattering as a Cause of Quantum Dephasing: The Conductance of Two-Dimensional Imperfect Conductors

Abstract

A method is proposed for studying wave and particle transport in disordered waveguide systems of dimension higher than unity by means of exact one-dimensionalization of the dynamic equations in the mode representation. As a particular case, the T=0 conductance of a two-dimensional quantum wire is calculated, which exhibits ohmic behaviour, with length-dependent conductivity, at any conductor length exceeding the electron quasi-classical mean free path. The unconventional diffusive regime of charge transport is found in the range of conductor lengths where the electrons are commonly considered as localized. In quantum wires with more than one conducting channel, each being identified with the extended waveguide mode, the inter-mode scattering is proven to serve as a phase-breaking mechanism that prevents interference localization without real inelasticity of interaction.