Inelastic quantum transport in nanostructures: The self-consistent Born approximation and correlated electron-ion dynamics

Eunan J. McEniry, Thomas Frederiksen, Tchavdar N. Todorov, Daniel Dundas, Andrew P. Horsfield

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24 Citations (Scopus)
617 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A dynamical method for inelastic transport simulations in nanostructures is compared to a steady-state method based on nonequilibrium Green's functions. A simplified form of the dynamical method produces, in the steady state in the weak-coupling limit, effective self-energies analogous to those in the Born approximation due to electron-phonon coupling. The two methods are then compared numerically on a resonant system consisting of a linear trimer weakly embedded between metal electrodes. This system exhibits an enhanced heating at high biases and long phonon equilibration times. Despite the differences in their formulation, the static and dynamical methods capture local current-induced heating and inelastic corrections to the current with good agreement over a wide range of conditions, except in the limit of very high vibrational excitations where differences begin to emerge.
Original languageEnglish
Article number035446
Number of pages12
JournalPhysical Review B (Condensed Matter)
Volume78
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jul 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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