Electron dephasing near zero temperature: an experimental review

Abstract

The behavior of the electron dephasing time near zero temperature, tau(0)(phi), has recently attracted vigorous attention. This renewed interest is primarily concerned with whether tau(0)(phi) should reach a finite or an infinite value as T -> 0. While it is accepted that tau(0)(phi) should diverge if there exists only electron-electron (electron-phonon) scattering, several recent measurements have found that tau(0)(phi) depends only very weakly on temperature, if at all, when T is sufficiently low. This article discusses the current experimental status of "the saturation problem", and concludes that the origin(s) for this widely observed saturation are still unresolved.