Quantum transport and surface scattering

Abstract

The effects of surface scattering on quantum transport in thin films and wires are considered. A nontrivial channel-mixing problem arising from random boundary conditions is solved exactly by a new method that we present here. We find that the full quantum-mechanical treatment of very pure systems leads to results qualitatively different from those of currently used quasiclassical theory. Our theory explains some recent experimental observations. © 1986 The American Physical Society.