Novel interference effects in multiply connected normal metal rings

Abstract

We have investigated the magnetoconductance of a normal metal loop connected to ideal wires in the presence of magnetic flux. The quantum mechanical potential, V, in the loop is much higher than that in the connecting wires (V=0). The electrons with energies less than the potential height on entering the loop propagate as evanescent modes. In such a situation, the contribution to the conductance arises from two non-classical effects, namely, Aharonov-Bohm effect and quantum tunneling. For this case we show that, on application of a small magnetic field, the conductance initially always decreases, or small field magnetoconductance is always negative. This is in contrast to the behavior in the absence of the barrier, wherein the small field magnetoconductance is either positive or negative depending on the Fermi energy and other geometric details. We also discuss the possibility of a better switch action based on quantum interference effects in such structures.