Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

6-7-2010

Abstract

Quasiclassical interference between bulk and boundary scattering channels in thin metal films with rough surfaces is discussed. The effective transport time, which is calculated beyond Mathiessen’s approximation, exhibits a nonanalytical dependence on the bulk relaxation time. Interference effects strongly affect the temperature (phonon scattering in the bulk) or concentration (impurity-scattering) dependencies of the conductivity. The results for large bulk free paths ℒb and large correlation radii (lateral sizes) R of surface inhomogeneities are described by simple analytical equations. At R2 ~ aℒb we predict a crossover between two asymptotic regimes for interference contributions that are characterized by distinct temperature/concentration dependencies. Experimental implications of our results are discussed.

Publisher Statement

© 2010 The American Physical Society

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