Quantum Stochastic Absorption

We report a detailed and systematic study of wave propagation through a stochastic absorbing random medium. Stochastic absorption is modeled by introducing an attenuation constant per unit length $\alpha$ in the free propagation region of the one-dimensional disordered chain of delta function scatterers. The average value of the logarithm of transmission coefficient decreases linearly with the length of the sample. The localization length is given by $\xi ~ = ~ \xi_w \xi_\alpha / (\xi_w + \xi_\alpha)$, where $\xi_w$ and $\xi_\alpha$ are the localization lengths in the presence of only disorder and of only absorption respectively. Absorption does not introduce any additional reflection in the limit of large $\alpha$, i.e., reflection shows a monotonic decrease with $\alpha$ and tends to zero in the limit of $\alpha\to\infty$, in contrast to the behavior observed in case of coherent absorption. The stationary distribution of reflection coefficient agrees well with the analytical results obtained within random phase approximation (RPA) in a larger parameter space. We also emphasize the major differences between the results of stochastic and coherent absorption.Comment: RevTex, 6 pages,2 column format, 9 .eps figures include

Dephasing of Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in a mesoscopic ring with a magnetic impurity

We present a detailed analysis of the Aharonov-Bohm interference oscillations manifested through transmission of an electron in a mesoscopic ring with a magnetic impurity atom inserted in one of its arms. The electron interacts with the impurity through the exchange interaction leading to exchange spin-flip scattering. Transmission in the spin-flipped and spin-unflipped channels are explicitly calculated. We show that the spin-flipper acts as a dephasor in spite of absence of any inelastic scattering. The spin-conductance (related to spin-polarized transmission coefficient) is asymmetric in the flux reversal as opposed to the two probe conductance which is symmetric under flux reversal.Comment: 4 pages RevTex, 6 figures, brief repor

Modelling of Stochastic Absorption in a Random Medium

We report a detailed and systematic study of wave propagation through a stochastic absorbing random medium. Stochastic absorption is modeled by introducing an attenuation constant per unit length $\alpha$ in the free propagation region of the one-dimensional disordered chain of delta function scatterers. The average value of the logarithm of transmission coefficient decreases linearly with the length of the sample. The localization length is given by $\xi ~ = ~ \xi_w \xi_\alpha / (\xi_w + \xi_\alpha)$, where $\xi_w$ and $\xi_\alpha$ are the localization lengths in the presence of only disorder and of only absorption respectively. Absorption does not introduce any additional reflection in the limit of large $\alpha$, i.e., reflection shows a monotonic decrease with $\alpha$ and tends to zero in the limit of $\alpha\to\infty$, in contrast to the behavior observed in case of coherent absorption. The stationary distribution of reflection coefficient agrees well with the analytical results obtained within random phase approximation (RPA) in a larger parameter space. We also emphasize the major differences between the results of stochastic and coherent absorption.Comment: 7 pages RevTex, 9 eps figures included, modified version of cond-mat/9909327, to appear in PRB, mpeg simulations at http://www.iopb.res.in/~joshi/mpg.htm

Loss of interference in an Aharonov-Bohm ring

We study a simple model of dephasing of Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in the transmission of an electron across a mesoscopic ring. A magnetic impurity in one of the arms of the ring couples to the electron spin via an exchange interaction. This interaction leads to spin flip scattering and induces dephasing via entanglement. This is akin to the models evoked earlier to explain destruction of interference due to which-path information in double-slit experiments. Total transmission is found to be symmetric under flux reversal but not the spin polarization.Comment: 4 pages, latex/revtex, 4 eps figures. Proceedings of CMDAYS2K, held at Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, India, Aug 29-31, 2

Role of quantum entanglement due to a magnetic impurity on current magnification effect in mesoscopic open rings

We study the current magnification effect in presence of exchange scattering of electron from a magnetic impurity placed in one arm of an open mesoscopic ring. The exchange interaction causes entanglement of electron spin and impurity spin. Earlier studies have shown that such an entanglement causes reduction or loss of interference in the Aharonov-Bohm oscillations leading to decoherence. We find however, that this entanglement, in contradiction to the naive expectation of a reduction of current magnification, leads to enhancement as well as suppression of the effect. We also observe additional novel features like new resonances and current reversals.Comment: 5 pages RevTex, 5 figures include

Effect of magnetic flux and of electron momentum on the transmission amplitude in the Aharonov-Bohm ring

A characterization of the two-terminal open-ring Aharonov-Bohm interferometer is made by analyzing the phase space plots in the complex transmission amplitude plane. Two types of plots are considered: type I plot which uses the magnetic flux as the variable parameter and type II plot which uses the electron momentum as the variable parameter. In type I plot, the trajectory closes upon itself only when the ratio $R$ of the arm lengths (of the interferometer) is a rational fraction, the shape and the type of the generated flower-like pattern is sensitive to the electron momentum. For momenta corresponding to discrete eigenstates of the perfect ring (i.e. the ring without the leads), the trajectory passes through the origin a certain fixed number of times before closing upon itself, whereas for arbitrary momenta it never passes through the origin. Although the transmission coefficient is periodic in the flux with the elementary flux quantum as the basic period, the phenomenon of electron transmission is shown not to be so when analyzed via the present technique. The periodicity is seen to spread over several flux units whenever $R$ is a rational fraction whereas there is absolutely no periodicity present when $R$ is an irrational number. In type II plot, closed trajectories passing through the origin a number of times are seen for $R$ being a rational fraction. The case R=1 (i.e. a symmetric ring) with zero flux is rather pathological--it presents a closed loop surrounding the origin. For irrational $R$ values, the trajectories never close.Comment: accepted in Int. J. Mod. Phys. B, RevTeX

A Quantum-Classical Brackets from p-Mechanics

We provide an answer to the long standing problem of mixing quantum and classical dynamics within a single formalism. The construction is based on p-mechanical derivation (quant-ph/0212101, quant-ph/0304023) of quantum and classical dynamics from the representation theory of the Heisenberg group. To achieve a quantum-classical mixing we take the product of two copies of the Heisenberg group which represent two different Planck's constants. In comparison with earlier guesses our answer contains an extra term of analytical nature, which was not obtained before in purely algebraic setup. Keywords: Moyal brackets, Poisson brackets, commutator, Heisenberg group, orbit method, representation theory, Planck's constant, quantum-classical mixingComment: LaTeX, 7 pages (EPL style), no figures; v2: example of dynamics with two different Planck's constants is added, minor corrections; v3: major revion, a complete example of quantum-classic dynamics is given; v4: few grammatic correction

Mixing quantum and classical mechanics and uniqueness of Planck's constant

Observables of quantum or classical mechanics form algebras called quantum or classical Hamilton algebras respectively (Grgin E and Petersen A (1974) {\it J Math Phys} {\bf 15} 764\cite{grginpetersen}, Sahoo D (1977) {\it Pramana} {\bf 8} 545\cite{sahoo}). We show that the tensor-product of two quantum Hamilton algebras, each characterized by a different Planck's constant is an algebra of the same type characterized by yet another Planck's constant. The algebraic structure of mixed quantum and classical systems is then analyzed by taking the limit of vanishing Planck's constant in one of the component algebras. This approach provides new insight into failures of various formalisms dealing with mixed quantum-classical systems. It shows that in the interacting mixed quantum-classical description, there can be no back-reaction of the quantum system on the classical. A natural algebraic requirement involving restriction of the tensor product of two quantum Hamilton algebras to their components proves that Planck's constant is unique.Comment: revised version accepted for publication in J.Phys.A:Math.Phy

Aharonov-Bohm oscillations and spin transport in a mesoscopic ring with a magnetic impurity

We present a detailed analysis of the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interference oscillations manifested through transmission of an electron in a mesoscopic ring with a magnetic impurity atom inserted in one of its arms. The spin polarization transport is also studied. The electron interacts with the impurity through the exchange interaction leading to exchange spin-flip scattering. Transmission in the spin-flipped and spin-unflipped channels are explicitly calculated. We show that the entanglement between electron and spin-flipper states lead to a reduction of AB oscillations in spite of absence of any inelastic scattering. The spin-conductance (related to spin-polarized transmission coefficient) is asymmetric in the flux reversal as opposed to the two probe conductance which is symmetric under flux reversal. We point out certain limitations of this model in regard to the general notion of dephasing in quantum mechanics.Comment: 6 pages RevTeX, 9 eps figures included, enlarged version of cond-mat/000741

Curved space and amorphous structures Part I. Geometric models

This paper offers (in two parts) a broad overview of recent developments concerning the use of curved space concepts in amorphous structures. Keeping particularly in mind nonspecialist readers, expository background material is included, wherever appropriate. Part I deals essentially with geometrical modelling, and starts with a brief recapitualtion of the famous model-building exercise due to Bernal. We then discuss the Kleman-Sadoc prescription for realizing amorphous structures as mappings of spherical polytopes (the four-dimensional analogue of spherical polyhedra) onto Euclidean space. Such an approach has not only provided a fast and convenient algorithm, but more importantly, has focused attention on the line defects (disclinations) in amorphous structures. As a result, one is now able to relate these disclinations to the Frank-Kasper lines present in complex alloy structures. In turn, this has led to a qualitative scenario for the transformation of the liquid during a cool-down, into the crystalline or the amorphous state. Part II deals with attempts to provide a quantitative structure to this scenario via gauge theories