Non-equilibrium quantum theory for nanodevices based on the Feynman-Vernon influence functional

Abstract

In this paper, we present a non-equilibrium quantum theory for transient electron dynamics in nanodevices based on the Feynman-Vernon influence functional. Applying the exact master equation for nanodevices we recently developed to the more general case in which all the constituents of a device vary in time in response to time-dependent external voltages, we obtained non-perturbatively the transient quantum transport theory in terms of the reduced density matrix. The theory enables us to study transient quantum transport in nanostructures with back-reaction effects from the contacts, with non-Markovian dissipation and decoherence being fully taken into account. For a simple illustration, we apply the theory to a single-electron transistor subjected to ac bias voltages. The non-Markovian memory structure and the nonlinear response functions describing transient electron transport are obtained. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.