Scattering Theory of Mesoscopic Detectors
arXiv:cond-mat/0210612 · doi:10.1016/S0039-6028(03)00235-8
Abstract
We consider a two-level system coupled to a mesoscopic two-terminal conductor that acts as measuring device. As a convenient description of the conductor we introduce its scattering matrix. We show how its elements can be used to calculate the relaxation and decoherence rates of the two-level system. Special emphasis is laid on the charge screening in the conductor that becomes important in the many-channel limit. Finally we give some examples that illustrate charge screening in different limits.
contribution to the ECOSS-21 proceedings in a special issue of SURFACE SCIENCE