Review lecture - Quantum processes in semiconductor structures

Abstract

A short review is given on quantum interference and interaction effects in semiconductor structures. It is shown that these effects give rise to observable corrections in the conductivity at low temperatures and can be separated by the behaviour of the magnetoresistance. Results are presented on the dimensionality dependence of the interference and it is shown that when a magnetic field determines the magnitude of the effect, this can be used to change the effective dimensionality of the system. The use of magnetoresistance in the extraction of electron–electron scattering rates is discussed and it is shown that in two dimensions the effect of disorder on the elec­tron–electron scattering rate can be observed.