paper

Theory of universal incoherent metallic transport

arXiv:1405.3651 · doi:10.1038/nphys3174

Abstract

In an incoherent metal, transport is controlled by the collective diffusion of energy and charge rather than by quasiparticle or momentum relaxation. We explore the possibility of a universal bound on the underlying diffusion constants in an incoherent metal. Such a bound is loosely motivated by results from holographic duality, the uncertainty principle and from measurements of diffusion in strongly interacting non-metallic systems. Metals close to saturating this bound are shown to have a linear in temperature resistivity with an underlying dissipative timescale matching that recently deduced from experimental data on a wide range of metals. This bound may be responsible for the ubiquitous appearance of high temperature regimes in metals with -linear resistivity, motivating direct probes of diffusive processes and measurements of charge susceptibilities.

arXiv comment1+17 pages + references. 2 figures, v2 minor improvements to discussion, v3 improved presentation and discussion

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