Electron conductance in curved quantum structures

A differential-geometry analysis is employed to investigate the transmission of electrons through a curved quantum-wire structure. Although the problem is a three-dimensional spatial problem, the Schrodinger equation can be separated into three general coordinates. Hence, the proposed method is computationally fast and provides direct (geometrical) parameter insight as regards the determination of the electron transmission coefficient.

We present, as a case study, calculations of the electron conductivity of a helically shaped quantum-wire structure and discuss the influence of the quantum-wire centerline radius of curvature and pitch length for the conductivity versus the chemical potential.