Organized Current Patterns in Disordered Conductors

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive theory explaining organized magnetic field patterns above disordered conductors, attributing them to specific electron scattering mechanisms influenced by wire imperfections.

Contribution

It introduces a general theory that quantitatively explains organized current deviation patterns in disordered wires, highlighting the role of Fourier components and anisotropic resistivity.

Findings

Patterns originate from electron scattering by Fourier components at ±45°

Long-range effects are suppressed in narrow or anisotropic wires

The theory matches recent experimental observations

Abstract

We present a general theory of current deviations in straight current carrying wires with random imperfections, which quantitatively explains the recent observations of organized patterns of magnetic field corrugations above micron-scale evaporated wires. These patterns originate from the most efficient electron scattering by Fourier components of the wire imperfections with wavefronts along the $\pm 45^{\circ}$ direction. We show that long range effects of surface or bulk corrugations are suppressed for narrow wires or wires having an electrically anisotropic resistivity.