Gauge invariant nonlinear electric transport in mesoscopic conductors
Condensed Matter
2009-10-28 v2
Abstract
We use the scattering approach to investigate the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of mesoscopic conductors. We discuss the leading nonlinearity by taking into account the self-consistent nonequilibrium potential. We emphasize conservation of the overall charge and current which are connected to the invariance under a global voltage shift (gauge invariance). As examples, we discuss the rectification coefficient of a quantum point contact and the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of a resonant level in a double barrier structure.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9604029,
title = {Gauge invariant nonlinear electric transport in mesoscopic conductors},
author = {T. Christen and M. Buttiker},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9604029},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
(Replaced version, with corrected Eq.(4)); 5 pages, RevTeX, 1 figure, uuencoded