Electron fractionalization-induced dephasing in Luttinger liquids

Using the appropriate fractionalization mechanism, we correctly derive the temperature (T) and interaction dependence of the electron lifetime tau(F) in Luttinger liquids. For strong enough interactions, we report that (Ttau(F))proportional tog, with g<1 being the standard Luttinger exponent; this reinforces that electrons are not good quasiparticles. We immediately emphasize that this is of importance for the detection of electronic interferences in ballistic one-dimensional rings and carbon nanotubes, inducing dephasing (strong reduction of Aharonov-Bohm oscillations).