Self-consistent theory of localization and Coulomb drag effect

We study the Coulomb drag rate for electrons in a double-quantum-well structure in the presence of disorder. The self-consistent theory of localization is used to obtain the frequency dependence of the generalized diffusion coefficient which influences the response functions. The interplay between screening effects and disorder at low temperature gives rise to an enhanced drag rate as the system goes from a weakly localized to a strongly localized phase with increasing disorder. The change in the interlayer momentum transfer rate may be used as a probe to investigate localization properties of coupled quantum-well systems. ©2000 The American Physical Society