Survival of Φ₀/2 periodicity in presence of incoherence in asymmetric Aharonov-Bohm rings

Abstract

Magneto conductance oscillations periodic in flux with periodicity Φ₀ and Φ₀/2 are seen in asymmetric Aharonov-Bohm rings as a function of density of electrons or Fermi wave vector. Dephasing of these oscillations is incorporated using a simple approach of wave attenuation. In this work, we study how the excitation of the Φ₀/2 oscillations and the accompanying phase change of π are affected by dephasing. Our results show that the Φ₀/2 oscillations survive incoherence, i.e. dephasing, albeit with reduced visibility while incoherence is also unable to obliterate the phase change of π.