Reflection Symmetric Ballistic Microstructures: Quantum Transport Properties

TL;DR

This paper investigates how reflection symmetry affects quantum transport in ballistic microstructures, deriving key properties like conductance fluctuations and distributions using random S-matrix theory.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of reflection symmetry's impact on quantum transport, revealing complex conductance behaviors in symmetric microstructures.

Findings

Reflection symmetry significantly influences quantum transport properties.

Derived weak-localization correction and conductance fluctuation magnitudes.

Identified non-trivial conductance distributions due to symmetry-induced S-matrix block coupling.

Abstract

We show that reflection symmetry has a strong influence on quantum transport properties. Using a random S-matrix theory approach, we derive the weak-localization correction, the magnitude of the conductance fluctuations, and the distribution of the conductance for three classes of reflection symmetry relevant for experimental ballistic microstructures. The S-matrix ensembles used fall within the general classification scheme introduced by Dyson, but because the conductance couples blocks of the S-matrix of different parity, the resulting conductance properties are highly non-trivial.