Magneto-polarisability of mesoscopic systems

Y. Noat, R. Deblock, B. Reulet, H. Bouchiat

Published 2001-07-19Version 1

In order to understand how screening is modified by electronic interferences in a mesoscopic isolated system, we have computed both analytically and numerically the average thermodynamic and time dependent polarisabilities of two dimensional mesoscopic samples in the presence of an Aharonov-Bohm flux. Two geometries have been considered: rings and squares. Mesoscopic correction to screening are taken into account in a self consistent way, using the response function formalism. The role of the statistical ensemble (canonical and grand canonical), disorder and frequency have been investigated. We have also computed first order corrections to the polarisability due to electron-electron interactions. Our main results concern the diffusive regime. In the canonical ensemble, there is no flux dependence polarisability when the frequency is smaller than the level spacing. On the other hand, in the grand canonical ensemble for frequencies larger than the mean broadening of the energy levels (but still small compared to the level spacing), the polarisability oscillates with flux, with the periodicity $h/2e$. The order of magnitude of the effect is given by $\delta \alpha/\alpha \propto (\lambda_s/Wg)$, where $\lambda$ is the Thomas Fermi screening length, $W$ the width of the rings or the size of the squares and $g$ their average dimensionless conductance. This magnetopolarisability of Aharonov-Bohm rings has been recently measured experimentally \cite{PRL_deblock00} and is in good agreement with our grand canonical result.