Abstract
In many conduction problems quantum coherent carrier transport competes with incoherent conduction. We review and extend an approach which introduces phase randomizing events via side branches leading away from the conductor to an electron reservoir. This discussion allows to treat the entire transition with increasing phase-randomization from the completely coherent limit to the completely incoherent limit. Transmission through opaque barriers is enhanced by phase randomizing events whereas resonant transmission is reduced by phase-randomizing events. The effect of a wide incident carrier distribution due to elevated temperatures or due to a large applied bias is considered. In all cases we find that phase randomization reduces the peak to valley ratio. In addition to double harriers we also discuss phase randomization in periodic lattices.
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Büttiker, M. (1991). Quantum Coherence and Phase Randomization in Series Resistors. In: Chang, L.L., Mendez, E.E., Tejedor, C. (eds) Resonant Tunneling in Semiconductors. NATO ASI Series, vol 277. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3846-2_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3846-2_21
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