Interaction corrections: Temperature and parallel field dependencies of the Lorentz number in two-dimensional disordered metals

Abstract

The electron-electron interaction corrections to the transport coefficients are calculated for a two-dimensional disordered metal in a parallel magnetic field via the quantum kinetic equation approach. For the thermal transport, three regimes (diffusive, quasiballistic, and truly ballistic) can be identified as the temperature increases. For the diffusive and quasiballistic regimes, the Lorentz number dependence on the temperature and on the magnetic field is studied. The electron-electron interactions induce deviations from the Wiedemann-Franz law, whose sign depend on the temperature: at low temperatures the long-range part of the Coulomb interaction gives a positive correction, while at higher temperature the inelastic collisions dominate the negative correction. By applying a parallel field, the Lorentz number becomes a nonmonotonic function of field and temperature for all values of the Fermi-liquid interaction parameter in the diffusive regime, while in the quasiballistic case this is true only sufficiently far from the Stoner instability.