A detailed analysis of magnetoconductance fluctuations of quasiballistic gold nanowires of various lengths is presented. We find that the variance $〈(\Delta G{)}^2〉=〈[G\left(B\right)-G(B+\Delta B){]}^2〉$ when analyzed for $\Delta B$ much smaller than the correlation field $B_c$ varies according to $〈(\Delta G{)}^2〉\propto \Delta B^{\gamma }$ with $\gamma <2\mathrm{}$, indicating that the graph of $G$ vs $B$ is fractal. We attribute this behavior to the existence of long-lived states arising from chaotic trajectories trapped close to regular classical orbits. We find that $\gamma$ decreases with increasing length of the wires.

• Received 29 April 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.3885