1994/04/22 by I. V. Krive, Krive, I. V., R. I. Shekhter +5
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Physical and Chemical Molecular Interactions #Condensed Matter (cond-mat) #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Devices #cond-mat
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.cond-mat/9404072
13 pages LaTeX v3.14 with RevTeX v3.0, 1 fig available on request APR 93-21
arxiv created 1994/04/22 · openalex publication_date 1994/04/22 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We calculate the magnetic moment (`persistent current') in a strongly correlated electron system --- a Wigner crystal --- in a one-dimensional ballistic ring. The flux- and temperature dependence of the persistent current is shown to be essentially the same as for a system of non-interacting electrons. In contrast, by incorporating into the ring geometry a tunnel barrier, that pins the Wigner crystal, the current is suppressed and its temperature dependence is drastically changed. The competition between two temperature effects --- a reduced barrier height for macroscopic tunneling and a loss of quantum coherence --- results in a sharp peak in the temperature dependence, which for a rigid Wigner crystal appears at T∼ 0.5 ℏ s/L, (s is the sound velocity of the Wigner crystal, L is the length of the ring).