Low-temperature decoherence in disordered Pt nanowires

We study the electrical properties of Pt nanowires, formed on SiO2 substrates by focused-ion-beam deposition. Their magneto-resistance shows evidence for weak-antilocalization at temperatures below View the MathML source, with a phase-breaking length of View the MathML source, and a temperature dependence suggestive of quasi-one-dimensional interference. Studies of their temperature-dependent resistance at low temperatures reveal a significant contribution due to electron-electron interaction as well as weak anti-localization. A switching behavior in the temporal resistance signals suggests two metastable states exist in local lattice configurations of the systems, which might be the source of saturation of phase-breaking length at low temperatures.