Origin of Shot Noise in Mesoscopic Cavities

Abstract

We discuss several aspects of shot noise suppression in mesoscopic cavities, focusing on the so-called “quantum to classical” crossover that can be induced by an increase of the width of the constrictions defining the cavity, an increase in the energy of the injected electrons or the application of a magnetic field. After reviewing the relevant literature, we present some results of our numerical simulations, and point out an alternative explanation of the observed shot noise suppression and the reasons why several statements that can be found in the literature are debatable. Overall, we point out how shot noise behavior in mesoscopic cavities can be explained without any need for classically chaotic dynamics and only on the basis of quantum chaos resulting from diffraction at the constrictions.