Electron dephasing due to Coulomb interaction

Abstract

The electron-electron scattering time τee for a hot electron with excess energy Δ above the Fermi surface of a two-dimensional (2D) electron gas is calculated as a function of temperature, carrier density, and excess energy Δ for a typical heterostructure. τee increases with decreasing temperature and saturates for temperatures below kT<Δ. The electron-electron scattering length lee limits the size of electron quantum interference devices. We show that electron-electron scattering lengths lee around 1 mm should be possible at temperatures T below 1 K and electron energies Δ below 0.1 meV.