Correlated electron current and temperature dependence of the conductance of a quantum point contact

We investigate finite temperature corrections to the Landauer formula due to electron–electron interaction within the quantum point contact. When the Fermi level is close to the barrier height, the conducting wavefunctions become peaked on the barrier, enhancing the electron–electron interaction. At the same time, away from the contact the interaction is strongly suppressed by screening. To describe electron transport we formulate and solve a kinetic equation for the density matrix of electrons. The correction to the conductance G is negative and strongly enhanced in the region 0.5 × 2e<Superscript>2</Superscript>/h ≤ G ≤ 1.0 × 2e<Superscript>2</Superscript>/h. Our results for conductance agree with the so-called “0.7 structure” observed in experiments. Copyright EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag 2008