Absence of localization and large dc conductance in random superlattices with correlated disorder

Abstract

We study how the influence of structural correlations in disordered systems manifests itself in experimentally measurable magnitudes, focusing on dc conductance of semiconductor supedattices with general potential profiles. We show that the existence of bands of extended states in these structures gives rise to very noticeable peaks in the finite-temperature dc conductance as the chemical potential is moved through the bands or as the temperature is increased from zero. On the basis of these results we discuss how dc conductance measurements can provide information on the location and width of the bands of extended states. Our predictions can be used to demonstrate experimentally that structural correlations inhibit the localization effects of disorder.