Current characteristics of mesoscopic rings in quantum Smoluchowski regime

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum thermal fluctuations influence persistent currents in mesoscopic metal rings, revealing a transition from paramagnetic to diamagnetic responses as quantum effects become more prominent.

Contribution

It introduces a Langevin equation framework in the quantum Smoluchowski regime to analyze quantum thermal fluctuation impacts on current-flux characteristics.

Findings

Quantum fluctuations can invert the magnetic response of the current.

Current response shifts from paramagnetic to diamagnetic with increased quantum effects.

The study extends classical models to include quantum thermal fluctuations.

Abstract

In normal mesoscopic metals of a ring topology persistent currents can be induced by threading the center of the ring with a magnetic flux. This phenomenon is an example of the famous Aharonov-Bohm effect. In the paper we study the current {\it vs} the external constant magnetic flux characteristics of the system driven by both the classical and the quantum thermal fluctuations. The problem is formulated in terms of Langevin equations in classical and quantum Smoluchowski regimes. We analyze the impact of the quantum thermal fluctuations on the current-flux characteristics. We demonstrate that the current response can be changed from paramagnetic to diamagnetic when the quantum nature of the thermal fluctuations increases.