Quantum transport in semiconductor quantum dot superlattices: electron-phonon resonances and polaron effects

TL;DR

This paper investigates electron transport in semiconductor quantum dot superlattices, focusing on electron-phonon interactions, resonances, and polaron effects, using nonequilibrium Green's functions and a phenomenological model.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of electron-phonon resonances and polaron effects in quantum dot superlattices, with validation of the theoretical approach and a model for nonuniformities.

Findings

Doublet structure in current-field characteristics indicates polaron effects.

Multiple peaks arise from electron-phonon resonances at smaller periods.

The phenomenological model estimates the impact of nonuniformities.

Abstract

Electron transport in periodic quantum dot arrays in the presence of interactions with phonons was investigated using the formalism of nonequilibrium Green's functions. The self-consistent Born approximation was used to model the self-energies. Its validity was checked by comparison with the results obtained by direct diagonalization of the Hamiltonian of interacting electrons and longitudinal optical phonons. The nature of charge transport at electron -- phonon resonances was investigated in detail and contributions from scattering and coherent tunnelling to the current were identified. It was found that at larger values of the structure period the main peak in the current -- field characteristics exhibits a doublet structure which was shown to be a transport signature of polaron effects. At smaller values of the period, electron -- phonon resonances cause multiple peaks in the characteristics. A phenomenological model for treatment of nonuniformities of a realistic quantum dot ensemble was also introduced to estimate the influence of nonuniformities on current -- field characteristics.