Impact of weak localization in the time domain

TL;DR

This paper investigates how weak localization affects the time-dependent diffusion coefficient in diffusive samples, revealing a crossover in dynamics from quasi-1D to slab geometries and dependence on sample parameters.

Contribution

It introduces a renormalized D(t) for pulsed excitation by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation with recurrent scattering, highlighting geometry-dependent behaviors.

Findings

D(t) decreases linearly after pulse peak with a nonuniversal slope.

Asymptotic D(t) depends on the ratio R/L and parameters g or kl.

Crossover observed from quasi-1D to slab geometry based on R/L ratio.

Abstract

We find a renormalized "time-dependent diffusion coefficient", D(t), for pulsed excitation of a nominally diffusive sample by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation with recurrent scattering. We observe a crossover in dynamics in the transformation from a quasi-1D to a slab geometry implemented by varying the ratio of the radius, R, of the cylindrical sample with reflecting walls and the sample length, L. Immediately after the peak of the transmitted pulse, D(t) falls linearly with a nonuniversal slope that approaches an asymptotic value for R/L >> 1. The value of D(t) extrapolated to t = 0 depends only upon the dimensionless conductance, g, for R/L << l 1 and only upon kl for R/L >> 1, where k is the wave vector and l is the bare mean free path.