Electron Scattering in Narrow Metal Wires

A combined experimental and theoretical approach is used to develop a fundamental understanding of electron scattering at Cu surfaces. The resistivity of single crystal Cu(001) grown on MgO(001) by magnetron sputtering increases with decreasing layer thickness, due to diffuse surface scattering. Non-equilibrium ab initio quantum mechanical transport calculations indicate that atomic level surface roughness causes a dramatic increase in electron scattering, leading to increased resistivity at reduced length-scales. The here developed models will, in the future, predict the material and surface-structure requirements that lead to specular scattering which, in turn, yields high-conductivity Cu at reduced length scales