Energy redistribution between quasiparticles in mesoscopic silver wires

Abstract

We have measured with a tunnel probe the energy distribution function of quasiparticles in silver diffusive wires connected to two large pads (``reservoirs''), between which a bias voltage was applied. From the dependence in energy and bias voltage of the distribution function we have inferred the energy exchange rate between quasiparticles. In contrast with previously obtained results on copper and gold wires, these data on silver wires can be well interpreted with the theory of diffusive conductors either solely, or associated with another mechanism, possibly the coupling to two-level systems.