A Theory of Boundary Roughness Scattering in Quantum Wires

Boundary roughness scattering in quantum wires is investigated. A new formulation to construct an effective potential beyond the perturbation theory and the adiabatic approximation is proposed. The theory of scattering in quasi-one dimensional systems which was proposed by the author to account for the higher order perturbation is re-investigated and is applied to a single-subband wire in the presence of screening by conduction electrons. Effects of screening in a multi-subband wire is also investigated and it is shown, at least for two-subband wires, that at low temperatures the currents carried by each subband become equal because of the peculiarity of the screening in quasi one-dimensional systems.