Interplay of Quantum Size Effect and Surface Electron Scattering in Conductivity of Thin Films

TL;DRAbstract

We constructed the most general theory of the classical and quantum static electron transport for 3D films with randomly rough boundaries. The electron-surface interaction was included via approximation with mildly sloping asperities, when the rms height of boundary defects is less than their mean length L. Then we analyzed influence of spatial quantization and electron-surface scattering on the film conductivity () and tleir interference. Joint action of those factors leads to pecnliarities (sharp dips) of () versus the sample thickness d appearing at points where a new conducting electron channel opens. The dips have fundamental quantum origin and are caused by size quantization of electron-surface scattering rate. When

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