Voltage fluctuations in small conductors

Abstract

The mean-squared voltage fluctuations of an ensemble of disordered conductors, measured between probes less than an inelastic scattering length apart, are independent of the separation of the probes. The mean-squared fluctuations of the conductance can exceed $e^2$/h by many orders of magnitude. To obtain these results, it is essential to take into account that carriers can make large excursions into the voltage leads without being scattered inelastically. Our results complement recent arguments and experimental findings by Benoit et al. .AE