Quantum bistability, structural transformation, and spontaneous persistent currents in mesoscopic aharonov-bohm loops

Fixed-number-of-electron mesoscopic or macromolecular conducting ring is shown to support persistent currents due to Aharonov-Bohm flux, and the "spontaneous" persistent currents without the flux when structural transformation in the ring is blocked by strong coupling to the externally azimuthal-symmetric environment. In the free-standing macromolecular ring, symmetry breaking removes the azimuthal periodicity which however is further restored at the increasing field. Three-site ring with one or three electrons represent an interesting quantum system which can serve as a qubit (quantum bit of information) and a qugate (quantum logical gate). © 2005 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.