Electron dephasing near zero temperature: an experimental review

J. J. Lin, T. J. Li, Y. L. Zhong

Published 2002-09-12Version 1

The behavior of the electron dephasing time near zero temperature, $\tau_\phi^0$, has recently attracted vigorous attention. This renewed interest is primarily concerned with whether $\tau_\phi^0$ should reach a finite or an infinite value as $T \to$ 0. While it is accepted that $\tau_\phi^0$ should diverge if there exists only electron-electron (electron-phonon) scattering, several recent measurements have found that $\tau_\phi^0$ depends only very weakly on temperature, if at all, when $T$ is sufficiently low. This article discusses the current experimental status of "the saturation problem", and concludes that the origin(s) for this widely observed saturation are still unresolved.