Ballistic and Diffusive

conduction
Aman Das, SPS, JNU
INTRODUCTION :
• In normal conductors electrons move through them and experience
collisions and scattering all the time.
• But if we make the dimensions of the conducting channel much
smaller, even smaller than their mean free path then they will move
through the channel without any scattering, i.e., ballistically. So
electrons will suffer negligible amount of resistance.

Ballistic conduction of carbon nanotubes was first demonstrated by

Frank and his workers.
In normal conductors, we know that conductance,
G=1/R= σA/L, so the graph of G vs. A is linear.

But in quantum cases it

becomes like
Ballistic conduction is a type of quantum conduction with a minimum
amount of conductance of
G0= 2e2/h= 12.9 kΩ-1
Total conductance G= G0.M where M is the number of modes.
For larger dimensions conductors become diffusive, i.e., electrons suffer
scattering in the channel.

• For ballistic case we have to add the electron Fermi velocity to the drift
velocity.
• Typically for Cu, vF~106 m/s
• So, mean free path, λ~ 10-8 m
• And lattice constant, L ~ 10-10m
• Here λ~ 100×L
BASIC CONCEPT :
The applied voltage reduces the
chemical potential of the drain by
an amount qV

The energy band diagram more or

less looks like
Explained by elastic resistor or Landauer resistor model

Here we need the concept of

density of states. The energy band
diagram becomes
Here (µ1-µ2)=qV

For constant D in this region around qV, the total no. of electrons in the
��
channel = D
2
�
which is equal to × t
�

�� �
Therefore, D  = × t
2 �

� �2�
which gives G= =
� 2�
If D is not constant over qV then in the small interval dE total no. of electrons = D(E)dE/2
�(�)�� ��
So, we get =
2 �
 ��.��(�)
I=
��(�)

Considering the Fermi function on both sides

��.��(�)
I=  [f1(E)-f2(E)]
2�(�)

Total current, I =
∞  
��.��(�)
−∞  [f1(E)−f2(E)]
2�(�)

1 ∞
Or, I = �� �(�)[f1(E)−f2(E)]
� −∞
 �2�(�)
Where G(E) =
2�(�)

G(E) is the conductance function.

In the above equation

f1(E)-f2(E) ≡ f(E,µ1) - f(E,µ2)
��
≈( )(µ1 - µ2)
�µ
��0
≈ (- )qV
��

Putting in above integral we get

� ∞ ��0
= −∞
��(- ) G(E)
� ��
BALLISTIC CONDUCTANCE :
�2�(�)
• Recall, G(E) =  
2�(�)
�
• Here tB=
���
�2����
• Hence GB=
2�
• As D~AL , So , GB ~ A
DIFFUSIVE CONDUCTANCE :
�2
• Here td=
2��
�2�
Recall G=
2�
Putting the value of t we get
�2���
Gd=(A/L).
��
or, Gd=σ(A/L)
�2���
Where σ =
��
 � �2
In General t =  +
��� 2��

����
• Or t= tB(1+ )
2��
�
• Or t= tB[1+ ]
λ
λ
• Here T=
λ+�
GBλ
• G=
(L+λ) 
• So, For λ>>L , T~ 1
• For λ<<L,T<<1
• For λ ~L, T<1
IMPORTANCE:
• Enables us to use quantum mechanical properties of electron wave
function
• It makes coherent electron waves used in optical effects
• Extremely stable high current density can be achieved, J>107 A/cm2.

References – Wikipedia, YouTube - Supriyo Datta, Nanomaterials – Cao.