Generalized Wigner Function Formulation for Quantum Systems with Open Boundaries
Abstract
A rigorous microscopic theory for the description of quantum-transport phenomena in systems with open boundaries is proposed. We shall show that the application of the conventional Wigner-function formalism to this problem leads to unphysical results, like injection of coherent electronic states from the contacts. To overcome such basic limitation, we propose a generalization of the standard Wigner-function formulation, able to properly describe the incoherent nature of carrier injection at the device spatial boundaries as well as the interplay between phase coherence and energy relaxation/dephasing within the device active region. The proposed theoretical scheme constitutes the first rigorous derivation of the phenomenological injection model commonly employed in the simulation of open quantum devices.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0204637,
title = {Generalized Wigner Function Formulation for Quantum Systems with Open Boundaries},
author = {Remo Proietti Zaccaria and Fausto Rossi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0204637},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
6 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett