The mesoscopic concept is a way to deal with complex materials with an internal structure within continuum mechanics. It consists of extending the domain of the balance equations by mesoscopic variables and of introducing a local distribution function of these variables as a statistical element. In our case microcracks are modelled as penny shaped and completely characterized by their diameter ...

We examine oscillations as a function of Fermi energy in the capacitance of a mesoscopic cavity connected via a single quantum channel to a metallic contact and capacitively coupled to a back gate. The oscillations depend on the distribution of single levels in the cavity, the interaction strength and the transmission probability through the quantum channel. We use a Hartree-Fock approach to ex...

The brain in complex animals is organized in different areas, such as visual areas, motor areas etc., which are believed to be responsible for specific functions. Each area can have in turn its own organization, but for all areas it is believed that their functions rely on the dynamics of networks of neurons rather than on single neurons. On the other hand, the network dynamics reflect and aris...

Modern materials are often complex in the structure at mesoscale. The method of pair-density function (PDF) is a powerful tool to characterize mesoscopic structure, bridging short- and long-range structures.

– We study the effect of mesoscopic fluctuations on a magnetic impurity coupled to a spatially confined electron gas with a temperature in the mesoscopic range (i.e. between the mean level spacing ∆ and the Thouless energy ETh). Comparing “poor-man’s scaling” with exact Quantum Monte Carlo, we find that for temperatures larger than the Kondo temperature, many aspects of the fluctuations can be ...

We consider charge relaxation in the mesoscopic equivalent of an RC circuit. For a single-channel, spin-polarized contact, self-consistent scattering theory predicts a universal charge relaxation resistance equal to half a resistance quantum independent of the transmission properties of the contact. This prediction is in good agreement with recent experimental results. We use a tunneling Hamilt...

– We show that a mesoscopic system such as Feynman’s ratchet may operate as a heat pump, and clarify a underlying physical picture. We consider a system of a particle moving along an asymmetric periodic structure. When put into a contact with two distinct heat baths of equal temperature, the system transfers heat between two baths as the particle is dragged. We examine Onsager relation for the ...

Having driven a large part of the decade's progress in physics, nanoelectronics is now passing from today's realm of the extraordinary to tomorrow's commonplace. This carries the problem of turning proofs of concept into practical artefacts. Better and more sharply focused predictive modelling will be the ultimate guide to optimizing mesoscopic technology as it matures. Securing this level of u...

– Motivated by a recent experiment by Buks et al. [Nature 391, 871 (1998)] we consider electron transport through an Aharonov–Bohm interferometer with a quantum dot in one of its arms. The quantum dot is coupled to a quantum system with a finite number of states acting as a which–path detector. The Aharonov–Bohm interference is calculated using a two–particle scattering approach for the joint t...