Open Fermi-Hubbard model: Landauer's vs. master equation approaches

TL;DR

This paper compares Landauer and master equation approaches to quantum transport in a Fermi-Hubbard model, highlighting the impact of relaxation processes on contact resistance and carrier distribution.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified model that explicitly incorporates relaxation processes, extending the Landauer formalism for better understanding of quantum transport.

Findings

Contact resistance depends on relaxation rates.

Non-equilibrium quasi-momentum distribution varies with relaxation.

Relaxation processes significantly influence transport properties.

Abstract

We introduce a simple model for the quantum transport of Fermi particles between two contacts connected by a lead. It generalizes the Landauer formalizm by explicitly taken into account the relaxation processes in the contacts. We calculate the contact resistance and non-equilibrium quasi-momentum distribution of the carriers in the lead and show that they strongly depend on the rate of relaxation processes.