Distinguishing quantum and classical transport through nanostructures

TL;DR

This paper develops inequalities based on temporal correlations to differentiate quantum from classical transport in nanostructures, with violations indicating quantum behavior beyond classical models.

Contribution

It introduces two inequalities for temporal correlations in nonequilibrium transport, applicable to local charge and current flow, to identify quantum effects in nanostructures.

Findings

Derived two inequalities for temporal correlations in nanostructure transport.

Violations of these inequalities indicate non-classical, quantum behavior.

Applicable to local charge measurements and double quantum dot current flow.

Abstract

We consider the question of how to distinguish quantum from classical transport through nanostructures. To address this issue we have derived two inequalities for temporal correlations in nonequilibrium transport in nanostructures weakly coupled to leads. The first inequality concerns local charge measurements and is of general validity; the second concerns the current flow through the device and is relevant for double quantum dots. Violation of either of these inequalities indicates that physics beyond that of a classical Markovian model is occurring in the nanostructure.