Skip to main content

Quantum transport in mesoscopic He3 films: Experimental study of the interference of bulk and boundary scattering

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

P. Sharma
A. Córcoles
R.G. Bennett
J.M. Parpia
B. Cowan
A.J. Casey
J. Saunders

Abstract

We discuss the mass transport of a degenerate Fermi liquid He3 film over a rough surface, and the film momentum relaxation time, in the framework of theoretical predictions. In the mesoscopic regime, the anomalous temperature dependence of the relaxation time is explained in terms of the interference between elastic boundary scattering and inelastic quasiparticle-quasiparticle scattering within the film. We exploit a quasiclassical treatment of quantum size effects in the film in which the surface roughness, whose power spectrum is experimentally determined, is mapped into an effective disorder potential within a film of uniform thickness. Confirmation is provided by the introduction of elastic scattering centers within the film. The improved understanding of surface roughness scattering may impact on enhancing the conductivity in thin metallic films. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Date Published

Journal

Physical Review Letters

Volume

107

Issue

19

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80155123923&doi=10.1103%2fPhysRevLett.107.196805&partnerID=40&md5=f77318120ec15d5b72fa35cead0e2bc6

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.196805

Group (Lab)

Jeevak Parpia Group

Download citation