Novel feature of quantum transport through conducting bridge: Correlation between surface disorder and bulk disorder

STRANGE EFFECT OF DISORDER ON ELECTRON TRANSPORT THROUGH A THIN FILM

A novel feature of electron transport is explored through a thin film of varying impurity density with the distance from its surface. The film, attached to two metallic electrodes, is described by simple tight-binding model and its coupling to the electrodes is treated through Newns–Anderson chemisorption theory. It is observed that in the strong disorder regime the amplitude of the current passing through the film increases with the increase of the disorder strength, while it decreases in the weak disorder regime. This anomalous behavior is completely opposite to that of conventional disordered systems. Our results also predict that the electron transport is significantly influenced by the finite size of the thin film.