Long-range order in electronic transport through disordered metal films

S. Aigner, L. Della Pietra, Y. Japha, O. Entin-Wohlman, T. David, R. Salem, R. Folman, J. Schmiedmayer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ultracold atom magnetic field microscopy enables the probing of current flow patterns in planar structures with unprecedented sensitivity. In polycrystalline metal (gold) films, we observed long-range correlations forming organized patterns oriented at ±45° relative to the mean current flow, even at room temperature and at length scales larger than the diffusion length or the grain size by several orders of magnitude. The preference to form patterns at these angles is a direct consequence of universal scattering properties at defects. The observed amplitude of the current direction fluctuations scales inversely to that expected from the relative thickness variations, the grain size, and the defect concentration, all determined independently by standard methods. Ultracold atom magnetometry thus enables new insight into the interplay between disorder and transport.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1226-1229
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume319
Issue number5867
DOIs
StatePublished - 29 Feb 2008
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Long-range order in electronic transport through disordered metal films'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this