About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Abstract
It is well known that for an ideal one-dimensional conductor under ballistic transport conditions the conductance is transversally quantized in steps of 2e2/h as the constriction width is varied. We essentially obtain this quantization by invoking the uncertainty principle in conjunction with the definition of transport in the quantum limit. The finite resistance of a perfect conductor, which has been previously understood in terms of contact effects, can thus also be viewed as having a quantum mechanical origin in the uncertainty principle. Having analyzed the quantization using simple arguments, we observe that the quantized Hall resistance shows similar step structure, and hence may be similarly motivated. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.