arXiv subjects

Robert S. Whitney

Publications and source records attributed to Robert S. Whitney.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Dephasing in quantum chaotic transport: a semiclassical approach

We investigate the effect of dephasing/decoherence on quantum transport through open chaotic ballistic conductors in the semiclassical limit of small Fermi wavelength to system size ratio, $λ_F/L << 1$. We use the trajectory-based semiclassical theory to study a two-terminal chaotic dot with decoherence originating from: (i) an external closed quantum chaotic environment, (ii) a classical source of noise, (iii) a voltage probe, i.e. an additional current-conserving terminal. We focus on the pure dephasing regime, where the coupling to the external source of dephasing is so weak that it does not induce energy relaxation. In addition to the universal algebraic suppression of weak localization, we find an exponential suppression of weak-localization $\propto \exp[-\tildeτ/τ_ϕ]$, with the dephasing rate $τ_ϕ^{-1}$. The parameter $\tildeτ$ depends strongly on the source of dephasing. For a voltage probe, $\tildeτ$ is of order the Ehrenfest time $\propto \ln [L/λ_F ]$. In contrast, for a chaotic environment or a classical source of noise, it has the correlation length $ξ$ of the coupling/noise potential replacing the Fermi wavelength $λ_F $. We explicitly show that the Fano factor for shot noise is unaffected by decoherence. We connect these results to earlier works on dephasing due to electron-electron interactions, and numerically confirm our findings.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Dephasing in the semiclassical limit is system-dependent

We investigate dephasing in open quantum chaotic systems in the limit of large system size to Fermi wavelength ratio, $L/λ_F >> 1$. We semiclassically calculate the weak localization correction $g^{wl}$ to the conductance for a quantum dot coupled to (i) an external closed dot and (ii) a dephasing voltage probe. In addition to the universal algebraic suppression $g^{wl} \propto (1+τ_D/τ_ϕ)^{-1}$ with the dwell time $τ_D$ through the cavity and the dephasing rate $τ_ϕ^{-1}$, we find an exponential suppression of weak localization by a factor $\propto \exp[-\tildeτ/τ_ϕ]$, with a system-dependent $\tildeτ$. In the dephasing probe model, $\tildeτ$ coincides with the Ehrenfest time, $\tildeτ \propto \ln [L/λ_F]$, for both perfectly and partially transparent dot-lead couplings. In contrast, when dephasing occurs due to the coupling to an external dot, $\tildeτ \propto \ln [L/ξ]$ depends on the correlation length $ξ$ of the coupling potential instead of $λ_F$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Suppression of weak-localization (and enhancement of noise) by tunnelling in semiclassical chaotic transport

We add simple tunnelling effects and ray-splitting into the recent trajectory-based semiclassical theory of quantum chaotic transport. We use this to derive the weak-localization correction to conductance and the shot-noise for a quantum chaotic cavity (billiard) coupled to $n$ leads via tunnel-barriers. We derive results for arbitrary tunnelling rates and arbitrary (positive) Ehrenfest time, $τ_{\rm E}$. For all Ehrenfest times, we show that the shot-noise is enhanced by the tunnelling, while the weak-localization is suppressed. In the opaque barrier limit (small tunnelling rates with large lead widths, such that Drude conductance remains finite), the weak-localization goes to zero linearly with the tunnelling rate, while the Fano factor of the shot-noise remains finite but becomes independent of the Ehrenfest time. The crossover from RMT behaviour ($τ_{\rm E}=0$) to classical behaviour ($τ_{\rm E}=\infty$) goes exponentially with the ratio of the Ehrenfest time to the paired-paths survival time. The paired-paths survival time varies between the dwell time (in the transparent barrier limit) and half the dwell time (in the opaque barrier limit). Finally our method enables us to see the physical origin of the suppression of weak-localization; it is due to the fact that tunnel-barriers ``smear'' the coherent-backscattering peak over reflection and transmission modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Semiclassical Theory of Quantum Chaotic Transport: Phase-Space Splitting, Coherent Backscattering and Weak Localization

We investigate transport properties of quantized chaotic systems in the short wavelength limit. We focus on non-coherent quantities such as the Drude conductance, its sample-to-sample fluctuations, shot-noise and the transmission spectrum, as well as coherent effects such as weak localization. We show how these properties are influenced by the emergence of the Ehrenfest time scale $\tE$. Expressed in an optimal phase-space basis, the scattering matrix acquires a block-diagonal form as $\tE$ increases, reflecting the splitting of the system into two cavities in parallel, a classical deterministic cavity (with all transmission eigenvalues either 0 or 1) and a quantum mechanical stochastic cavity. This results in the suppression of the Fano factor for shot-noise and the deviation of sample-to-sample conductance fluctuations from their universal value. We further present a semiclassical theory for weak localization which captures non-ergodic phase-space structures and preserves the unitarity of the theory. Contrarily to our previous claim [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 116801 (2005)], we find that the leading off-diagonal contribution to the conductance leads to the exponential suppression of the coherent backscattering peak and of weak localization at finite $\tE$. This latter finding is substantiated by numerical magnetoconductance calculations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Shot noise in semiclassical chaotic cavities

We construct a trajectory-based semiclassical theory of shot noise in clean chaotic cavities. In the universal regime of vanishing Ehrenfest time $\tE$, we reproduce the random matrix theory result, and show that the Fano factor is exponentially suppressed as $\tE$ increases. We demonstrate how our theory preserves the unitarity of the scattering matrix even in the regime of finite $\tE$. We discuss the range of validity of our semiclassical approach and point out subtleties relevant to the recent semiclassical treatment of shot noise in the universal regime by Braun et al. [cond-mat/0511292].

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Semiclassical Theory of Quantum Chaotic Transport: Phase-Space Splitting

This paper is withdrawn. While almost all findings reported here remain valid, some of our comments on the fate of weak localization corrections to the conductance in the deep semiclassical limit are now obsolete. Contrarily to what was suggested here, we find an exponential suppression of weak localization at finite Ehrenfest time. For more details, see cond-mat/0512662 .

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Suppression of Shot-Noise in Quantum Cavities: Chaos vs. Disorder

We investigate the behavior of the shot-noise power through quantum mechanical cavities in the semiclassical limit of small electronic wavelength. In the absence of impurity scattering, the Fano factor $F$, giving the noise to current ratio, was previously found to disappear as more and more classical, hence deterministic and noiseless transmission channels open up. We investigate the behavior of $F$ as diffractive impurities are added inside the cavity. We find that $F$ recovers its universal value provided (i) impurities cover the full cavity so that only a set of zero measure of classical trajectories may avoid them, and (ii) the impurity scattering rate exceeds the inverse dwell time through the cavity. If condition (i) is not satisfied, $F$ saturates below its universal value, even in the limit of strong scattering. Our results corroborate the validity of the two-phase fluid model according to which the electronic flow splits into two well separated components, a classical deterministic fluid and a stochastic quantum-mechanical fluid. Only the latter carries shot-noise.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Microscopic Theory for the Quantum to Classical Crossover in Chaotic Transport

We present a semiclassical theory for the scattering matrix ${\cal S}$ of a chaotic ballistic cavity at finite Ehrenfest time. Using a phase-space representation coupled with a multi-bounce expansion, we show how the Liouville conservation of phase-space volume decomposes ${\cal S}$ as ${\cal S}={\cal S}^{\rm cl} \oplus {\cal S}^{\rm qm}$. The short-time, classical contribution ${\cal S}^{\rm cl}$ generates deterministic transmission eigenvalues T=0 or 1, while quantum ergodicity is recovered within the subspace corresponding to the long-time, stochastic contribution ${\cal S}^{\rm qm}$. This provides a microscopic foundation for the two-phase fluid model, in which the cavity acts like a classical and a quantum cavity in parallel, and explains recent numerical data showing the breakdown of universality in quantum chaotic transport in the deep semiclassical limit. We show that the Fano factor of the shot-noise power vanishes in this limit, while weak localization remains universal.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Geometric nature of the environment-induced Berry phase and geometric dephasing

We investigate the geometric phase or Berry phase (BP) acquired by a spin-half which is both subject to a slowly varying magnetic field and weakly-coupled to a dissipative environment (either quantum or classical). We study how this phase is modified by the environment and find that the modification is of a geometric nature. While the original BP (for an isolated system) is the flux of a monopole-field through the loop traversed by the magnetic field, the environment-induced modification of the BP is the flux of a quadrupole-like field. We find that the environment-induced phase is complex, and its imaginary part is a geometric contribution to dephasing. Its sign depends on the direction of the loop. Unlike the BP, this geometric dephasing is gauge invariant for open paths of the magnetic field.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Berry phase with environment: classical versus quantum

We discuss the concept of the Berry phase in a dissipative system. We show that one can identify a Berry phase in a weakly-dissipative system and find the respective correction to this quantity, induced by the environment. This correction is expressed in terms of the symmetrized noise power and is therefore insensitive to the nature of the noise representing the environment, namely whether it is classical or quantum mechanical. It is only the spectrum of the noise which counts. We analyze a model of a spin-half (qubit) anisotropically coupled to its environment and explicitly show the coincidence between the effect of a quantum environment and a classical one.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Form factor for a family of quantum graphs: An expansion to third order

For certain types of quantum graphs we show that the random-matrix form factor can be recovered to at least third order in the scaled time $τ$ from periodic-orbit theory. We consider the contributions from pairs of periodic orbits represented by diagrams with up to two self-intersections connected by up to four arcs and explain why all other diagrams are expected to give higher-order corrections only. For a large family of graphs with ergodic classical dynamics the diagrams that exist in the absence of time-reversal symmetry sum to zero. The mechanism for this cancellation is rather general which suggests that it may also apply at higher-orders in the expansion. This expectation is in full agreement with the fact that in this case the linear-$τ$ contribution, the diagonal approximation, already reproduces the random-matrix form factor for $τ<1$. For systems with time-reversal symmetry there are more diagrams which contribute at third order. We sum these contributions for quantum graphs with uniformly hyperbolic dynamics, obtaining $+2τ^{3}$, in agreement with random-matrix theory. As in the previous calculation of the leading-order correction to the diagonal approximation we find that the third order contribution can be attributed to exceptional orbits representing the intersection of diagram classes.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2003

Berry phase in a non-isolated system

We investigate the effect of the environment on a Berry phase measurement involving a spin-half. We model the spin+environment using a biased spin-boson Hamiltonian with a time-dependent magnetic field. We find that, contrary to naive expectations, the Berry phase acquired by the spin can be observed, but only on timescales which are neither too short nor very long. However this Berry phase is not the same as for the isolated spin-half. It does not have a simple geometric interpretation in terms of the adiabatic evolution of either bare spin-states or the dressed spin-resonances that remain once we have traced out the environment. This result is crucial for proposed Berry phase measurements in superconducting nanocircuits as dissipation there is known to be significant.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

The Leading Off-Diagonal Correction to the Form Factor of Large Graphs

Using periodic-orbit theory beyond the diagonal approximation we investigate the form factor, $K(τ)$, of a generic quantum graph with mixing classical dynamics and time-reversal symmetry. We calculate the contribution from pairs of self-intersecting orbits that differ from each other only in the orientation of a single loop. In the limit of large graphs, these pairs produce a contribution $-2τ^2$ to the form factor which agrees with random-matrix theory.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2001

Does Berry phase exist for a system coupled to its environment?

Berry phase was originally defined for systems whose states are separated by finite energy gaps. One might naively expect that a system without a gap cannot have a Berry phase. Despite this we ask whether a Berry phase can be observed in a system which has a continuous spectrum because its coupling to the environment has broadened its energy levels. We find that, contrary to the above naive expectation, there are conditions under which the Berry phase is observable. However it is modified by the presence of the environment and no longer has a simple geometric interpretation. The model system we consider is a spin-half in a slowly rotating magnetic field, with the spin also coupled to a Ohmic environment of harmonic oscillators (spin-boson model). Here we discuss the high-temperature limit of this model. We then interpret our results in terms of a spin under the influence of a classical stochastic field.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1999

Can the trace formula describe weak localisation?

We attempt to systematically derive perturbative quantum corrections to the Berry diagonal approximation of the two-level correlation function (TLCF) for chaotic systems. To this end, we develop a ``weak diagonal approximation'' based on a recent description of the first weak localisation correction to conductance in terms of the Gutzwiller trace formula. This semiclassical method is tested by using it to derive the weak localisation corrections to the TLCF for a semiclassically disordered system. Unfortunately the method is unable to correctly reproduce the ``Hikami boxes'' (the relatively small regions where classical paths are glued together by quantum processes). This results in the method failing to reproduce the well known weak localisation expansion. It so happens that for the first order correction it merely produces the wrong prefactor. However for the second order correction, it is unable to reproduce certain contributions, and leads to a result which is of a different form to the standard one.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗