Phonon-assisted ballistic resistance

Dynamical response of nanostructures and Joule heat release

We consider Joule heat release in a quantum wire joining two classical reservoirs under the action of a nonstationary periodic electric field. The rate of heat generation and its spatial distribution is discussed. The heat is spread over the lengths of electron mean free paths in the reservoirs. We find that the total rates of heat generation in both reservoirs that are joined by the nanostructure are the same.

Phonon-induced resistivity of electron liquids in quantum wires

We study the resistivity of a quantum wire caused by backscattering of electrons by acoustic phonons. In the presence of Coulomb interactions, backscattering is strongly enhanced at low temperatures due to Luttinger liquid effects. Information about the strength of the interactions can be obtained from a measurement of the temperature dependence of the resistivity.

Electron-phonon scattering in quantum point contacts

We study the negative correction to the quantized value 2e(2)/h of the conductance of a quantum point contact due to the backscattering of electrons by acoustic phonons. The correction shows activated temperature dependence and also gives rise to a zero-bias anomaly in conductance. Our results are in qualitative agreement with recent experiments studying the 0.7 feature in the conductance of quantum point contacts.