On the spectrum of the Laplace operator of metric graphs attached at a vertex -- Spectral determinant approach

We consider a metric graph $\mathcal{G}$ made of two graphs $\mathcal{G}_1$ and $\mathcal{G}_2$ attached at one point. We derive a formula relating the spectral determinant of the Laplace operator $S_\mathcal{G}(\gamma)=\det(\gamma-\Delta)$ in terms of the spectral determinants of the two subgraphs. The result is generalized to describe the attachment of $n$ graphs. The formulae are also valid for the spectral determinant of the Schr\"odinger operator $\det(\gamma-\Delta+V(x))$.Comment: LaTeX, 8 pages, 7 eps figures, v2: new appendix, v3: discussions and ref adde

Dephasing due to electron-electron interaction in a diffusive ring

We study the effect of the electron-electron interaction on the weak localization correction of a ring pierced by a magnetic flux. We compute exactly the path integral giving the magnetoconductivity for an isolated ring. The results are interpreted in a time representation. This allows to characterize the nature of the phase coherence relaxation in the ring. The nature of the relaxation depends on the time regime (diffusive or ergodic) but also on the harmonics $n$ of the magnetoconductivity. Whereas phase coherence relaxation is non exponential for the harmonic $n=0$, it is always exponential for harmonics $n\neq0$. Then we consider the case of a ring connected to reservoirs and discuss the effect of connecting wires. We recover the behaviour of the harmonics predicted recently by Ludwig & Mirlin for a large perimeter (compared to the Nyquist length). We also predict a new behaviour when the Nyquist length exceeds the perimeter.Comment: 21 pages, RevTeX4, 8 eps figures; version of 10/2006 : eqs.(100-102) of section V.C correcte

Effect of connecting wires on the decoherence due to electron-electron interaction in a metallic ring

We consider the weak localization in a ring connected to reservoirs through leads of finite length and submitted to a magnetic field. The effect of decoherence due to electron-electron interaction on the harmonics of AAS oscillations is studied, and more specifically the effect of the leads. Two results are obtained for short and long leads regimes. The scale at which the crossover occurs is discussed. The long leads regime is shown to be more realistic experimentally.Comment: LaTeX, 4 pages, 4 eps figure

Derivation of the Zakharov equations

This paper continues the study of the validity of the Zakharov model describing Langmuir turbulence. We give an existence theorem for a class of singular quasilinear equations. This theorem is valid for well-prepared initial data. We apply this result to the Euler-Maxwell equations describing laser-plasma interactions, to obtain, in a high-frequency limit, an asymptotic estimate that describes solutions of the Euler-Maxwell equations in terms of WKB approximate solutions which leading terms are solutions of the Zakharov equations. Because of transparency properties of the Euler-Maxwell equations, this study is led in a supercritical (highly nonlinear) regime. In such a regime, resonances between plasma waves, electromagnetric waves and acoustic waves could create instabilities in small time. The key of this work is the control of these resonances. The proof involves the techniques of geometric optics of Joly, M\'etivier and Rauch, recent results of Lannes on norms of pseudodifferential operators, and a semiclassical, paradifferential calculus

Weak localization in multiterminal networks of diffusive wires

We study the quantum transport through networks of diffusive wires connected to reservoirs in the Landauer-B\"uttiker formalism. The elements of the conductance matrix are computed by the diagrammatic method. We recover the combination of classical resistances and obtain the weak localization corrections. For arbitrary networks, we show how the cooperon must be properly weighted over the different wires. Its nonlocality is clearly analyzed. We predict a new geometrical effect that may change the sign of the weak localization correction in multiterminal geometries.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX, 4 figures, 8 eps file

Quantum oscillations in mesoscopic rings and anomalous diffusion

We consider the weak localization correction to the conductance of a ring connected to a network. We analyze the harmonics content of the Al'tshuler-Aronov-Spivak (AAS) oscillations and we show that the presence of wires connected to the ring is responsible for a behaviour different from the one predicted by AAS. The physical origin of this behaviour is the anomalous diffusion of Brownian trajectories around the ring, due to the diffusion in the wires. We show that this problem is related to the anomalous diffusion along the skeleton of a comb. We study in detail the winding properties of Brownian curves around a ring connected to an arbitrary network. Our analysis is based on the spectral determinant and on the introduction of an effective perimeter probing the different time scales. A general expression of this length is derived for arbitrary networks. More specifically we consider the case of a ring connected to wires, to a square network, and to a Bethe lattice.Comment: 17 pages, 7 eps figure

Geometrical dependence of decoherence by electronic interactions in a GaAs/GaAlAs square network

We investigate weak localization in metallic networks etched in a two dimensional electron gas between $25\:$mK and $750\:$mK when electron-electron (e-e) interaction is the dominant phase breaking mechanism. We show that, at the highest temperatures, the contributions arising from trajectories that wind around the rings and trajectories that do not are governed by two different length scales. This is achieved by analyzing separately the envelope and the oscillating part of the magnetoconductance. For $T\gtrsim0.3\:$K we find \Lphi^\mathrm{env}\propto{T}^{-1/3} for the envelope, and \Lphi^\mathrm{osc}\propto{T}^{-1/2} for the oscillations, in agreement with the prediction for a single ring \cite{LudMir04,TexMon05}. This is the first experimental confirmation of the geometry dependence of decoherence due to e-e interaction.Comment: LaTeX, 5 pages, 4 eps figure

Functionals of the Brownian motion, localization and metric graphs

We review several results related to the problem of a quantum particle in a random environment. In an introductory part, we recall how several functionals of the Brownian motion arise in the study of electronic transport in weakly disordered metals (weak localization). Two aspects of the physics of the one-dimensional strong localization are reviewed : some properties of the scattering by a random potential (time delay distribution) and a study of the spectrum of a random potential on a bounded domain (the extreme value statistics of the eigenvalues). Then we mention several results concerning the diffusion on graphs, and more generally the spectral properties of the Schr\"odinger operator on graphs. The interest of spectral determinants as generating functions characterizing the diffusion on graphs is illustrated. Finally, we consider a two-dimensional model of a charged particle coupled to the random magnetic field due to magnetic vortices. We recall the connection between spectral properties of this model and winding functionals of the planar Brownian motion.Comment: Review article. 50 pages, 21 eps figures. Version 2: section 5.5 and conclusion added. Several references adde

Direct measurement of the phase coherence length in a GaAs/GaAlAs square network

The low temperature magnetoconductance of a large array of quantum coherentloops exhibits Altshuler-Aronov-Spivak oscillations which periodicitycorresponds to 1/2 flux quantum per loop.We show that the measurement of the harmonics content in a square networkprovides an accurate way to determine the electron phase coherence length$L\_{\phi}$ in units of the lattice length without any adjustableparameters.We use this method to determine $L\_{\phi}$ in a network realised from a 2Delectron gas (2DEG) in a GaAS/GaAlAs heterojunction. The temperaturedependence follows a power law $T^{-1/3}$ from 1.3 K to 25 mK with nosaturation, as expected for 1D diffusive electronic motion andelectron-electron scattering as the main decoherence mechanism.Comment: Additional experimental data in version

Synthèse du colloque international sur la microfinance.

La microfinance a fait l’objet d’un colloque organisé par la Banque de France en juillet 2011. Les participants ont souligné son utilité comme outil d’inclusion financière, de développement économique et de lutte contre la pauvreté en s’appuyant sur les expériences des pays du Sud et ont proposé des pistes de réflexion pour le financement de son développement, ainsi que sur la pertinence et les modalités de sa régulation.microfinance, microcrédit, entrepreneuriat, lutte contre la pauvreté, régulation, réglementation, inclusion financière, développement économique.