Dephasing time in a two-dimensional electron Fermi liquid

The electron dephasing time, , is a quantity of great importance for the analysis of transport in semiconductor and metal mesoscopic samples. Essentially, sets the scale at which the quantum-mechanical properties of the microscopic system crossover to the familiar classical behavior seen in macroscopic objects. The study of quantum coherence has attracted considerable attention, motivated both by questions of fundamental scientific interest concerning sources of decoherence in materials, and by the possibility of using solid-state electronic devices to store quantum information. The investigation of electron dephasing has advanced significantly thanks to the observation of a variety of prominent quantum interference phenomena. Weak