Weak localization, Aharonov-Bohm oscillations, and decoherence in arrays of quantum dots

Abstract

Combining scattering matrix theory with the non-linear σ-model and the Keldysh technique, we develop a unified theoretical approach for non-perturbative study of the effect of electron-electron interactions on weak localization and Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in arbitrary arrays of quantum dots. Our model embraces weakly disordered conductors, strongly disordered conductors, and metallic quantum dots. In all these cases, as T→0 the electron decoherence time saturates to a finite value determined by a universal formula which agrees quantitatively with a number of experiments. Our analysis provides overwhelming evidence in favor of electron-electron interactions as a universal mechanism for zero temperature electron decoherence in disordered conductors.