Vibrationally induced decoherence in single-molecule junctions

Härtle R, Thoss M (2013)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2013

Journal

Physical Review B American Physical Society

Publisher: American Physical Society

Book Volume: 87

Pages Range: 085422

Journal Issue: 8

URI: http://prb.aps.org/abstract/PRB/v87/i8/e085422

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.87.085422

Abstract

We investigate the interplay of quantum interference effects and electronic-vibrational coupling in electron transport through single-molecule junctions, employing a nonequilibrium Green's function approach. Our findings show that inelastic processes lead, in general, to a quenching of quantum interference effects. This quenching is more pronounced for increasing bias voltages and levels of vibrational excitation. As a result of this vibrationally induced decoherence, vibrational signatures in the transport characteristics of a molecular contact may strongly deviate from a simple Franck-Condon picture. This includes signatures in both the resonant and the nonresonant transport regimes. Moreover, it is shown that local cooling by electron-hole pair creation processes can influence the transport characteristics profoundly, giving rise to a significant temperature dependence of the electrical current. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Authors with CRIS profile

Rainer Härtle Professur für Theoretische Physik mit dem Schwerpunkt Molekulare Materialien Michael Thoss Professur für Theoretische Physik mit dem Schwerpunkt Molekulare Materialien

Additional Organisation(s)

Exzellenz-Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials

How to cite

APA:

Härtle, R., & Thoss, M. (2013). Vibrationally induced decoherence in single-molecule junctions. Physical Review B, 87(8), 085422. https://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.87.085422

MLA:

Härtle, Rainer, and Michael Thoss. "Vibrationally induced decoherence in single-molecule junctions." Physical Review B 87.8 (2013): 085422.

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