The effects of inelastic scattering in open quantum dots: Reduction of conductance fluctuations and disruption of wave-function 'scarring'

We perform numerical simulations of the quantum mechanical transport and corresponding wave-functions in open, square quantum dots. The effects of inelastic scattering are introduced phenomenologically. Examining the root mean square amplitude of the conductance fluctuations, we find they decay exponentially with 1/tau(phi) (tau(phi) being the inelastic scattering time), in good agreement with the results of recent experiments. In previous work, we have found the wave-functions of such dots should be 'scarred'. We examine the robustness of this scarring effect to the phase-breaking process.