Quantum Stirring in low dimensional devices

Abstract

A circulating current can be induced in the Fermi sea by displacing a scatterer, or more generally by integrating a quantum pump into a closed circuit. The induced current may have either the same or the opposite sense with respect to the "pushing" direction of the pump. We work out explicit expressions for the associated geometric conductance using the Kubo-Dirac monopoles picture, and illuminate the connection with the theory of adiabatic passage in multiple path geometry.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, improved versio