Nonlinear Conductance in a Ballistic Aharonov-Bohm Ring

Abstract

The nonlinear electronic transport properties of a ballistic Aharonov-Bohm ring are investigated. It is demonstrated how the electronic interaction breaks the phase rigidity in a two-probe mesoscopic device as the voltage bias is increased. The possibility of studying interference effects in the nonlinear regime is addressed. The occurrence of magnetic field symmetries in higher order conductance coefficients is analyzed. The results are compared with recent experimental data.