Inelastic Quantum Transport

1997/05/07 by J. Bonča, Janez Bonca, S. A. Trugman · 3 citations
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides #Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials #cond-mat.str-el

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.79.4874

revtex, 13 pages, 4 figures

arxiv created 1997/05/07 · openalex publication_date 1997/12/15 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We solve a Schrodinger equation for inelastic quantum transport that retains full quantum coherence, in contrast to previous rate or Boltzmann equation approaches. The model Hamiltonian is the zero temperature 1d Holstein model for an electron coupled to optical phonons (polaron), in a strong electric field. The Hilbert space grows exponentially with electron position, forming a non-standard Bethe lattice. We calculate nonperturbatively the transport current, electron-phonon correlations, and quantum diffusion. This system is a toy model for the constantly branching ``wavefunction of the universe''.

Citations

• Environment-induced superselection rules

Cited by

• Electron–phonon interaction and electronic decoherence in molecular conductors
• Quantum properties of atomic-sized conductors
• The influence of vibronic coupling on the shape of transport characteristics in inelastic tunneling through molecules