Non-decaying currents in normal metals

Abstract

In a present paper, we review cases when stable, time-independent currents may flow in normal metals, both single-connected or multiple-connected, in presence of magnetic field or the field of vector potential. These include the spatially oscillating currents in narrow metallic stripes originating due to Landau diamagnetism (the Landau persistent currents), the currents in hollow normal-metal or semiconducting cylinders and rings induced by the Aharonov-Bohm flux threading the conducting loop (the Aharonov-Bohm persistent currents), and currents in hollow cylinders subject to radial flux and existing even in the absence of the longitudinal, or Aharonov-Bohm flux (the “transverse” persistent currents), as well as the non-decaying currents in axial magnetic field, modulated via the Berry phase effect by the transverse or azimuthal components of the field and oscillating as a function of the latter.