Bistability in a nonequilibrium quantum system with electron-phonon interactions

Wilner EY, Wang H, Cohen G, Thoss M, Rabani E (2013)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2013

Journal

Physical Review B American Physical Society

Publisher: American Physical Society

Book Volume: 88

Pages Range: 045137

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.045137

Abstract

The existence of more than one steady state in a many-body quantum system driven out of equilibrium has been a matter of debate, both in the context of simple impurity models and in the case of inelastic tunneling channels. In this paper, we combine a reduced density matrix formalism with the multilayer multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method to address this problem. This allows us to obtain a converged numerical solution of the nonequilibrium dynamics. Considering a generic model for quantum transport through a quantum dot with electron-phonon interaction, we prove that a unique steady state exists regardless of the initial electronic preparation of the quantum dot, consistent with the converged numerical results. However, a bistability can be observed for different initial phonon preparations. The effects of the phonon frequency and strength of the electron-phonon couplings on the nonequilibrium dynamics and on the emergence of bistability is discussed. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Authors with CRIS profile

Michael Thoss Professur für Theoretische Physik mit dem Schwerpunkt Molekulare Materialien

Additional Organisation(s)

Exzellenz-Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials

Involved external institutions

Tel Aviv University IL Israel (IL) Columbia University US United States (USA) (US) New Mexico State University (NMSU) US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Wilner, E.Y., Wang, H., Cohen, G., Thoss, M., & Rabani, E. (2013). Bistability in a nonequilibrium quantum system with electron-phonon interactions. Physical Review B, 88(4), 045137. https://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.88.045137

MLA:

Wilner, Eli Y., et al. "Bistability in a nonequilibrium quantum system with electron-phonon interactions." Physical Review B 88.4 (2013): 045137.

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