English

Non-Equilibrium Electron Transport in Two-Dimensional Nano-Structures Modeled by Green's Functions and the Finite-Element Method

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2009-11-10 v1

Abstract

We use the effective-mass approximation and the density-functional theory with the local-density approximation for modeling two-dimensional nano-structures connected phase-coherently to two infinite leads. Using the non-equilibrium Green's function method the electron density and the current are calculated under a bias voltage. The problem of solving for the Green's functions numerically is formulated using the finite-element method (FEM). The Green's functions have non-reflecting open boundary conditions to take care of the infinite size of the system. We show how these boundary conditions are formulated in the FEM. The scheme is tested by calculating transmission probabilities for simple model potentials. The potential of the scheme is demonstrated by determining non-linear current-voltage behaviors of resonant tunneling structures.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0308105,
  title  = {Non-Equilibrium Electron Transport in Two-Dimensional Nano-Structures Modeled by Green's Functions and the Finite-Element Method},
  author = {Paula Havu and Ville Havu and Martti Puska and Risto Nieminen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0308105},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

13 pages,15 figures