Quantum master equation for nanoelectromechanical systems beyond the wide-band limit

TL;DR

This paper develops a fully quantum master equation for nanoelectromechanical systems that operate beyond the wide-band limit, capturing energy-dependent tunneling effects and matching experimental observations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum master equation applicable when electronic transport is slower than the oscillator's frequency, extending beyond the wide-band approximation.

Findings

Good agreement with hierarchical equations of motion in steady state

Derived a particle current expression matching experimental features

Validated the model's applicability to real devices

Abstract

Coupling the vibrations of an oscillator to electronic transport is a key building block for nanoelectromechanical systems. They describe many nanoscale electrical components such as molecular junctions. Inspired by recent experimental developments, we derive a quantum master equation that describes nanoelectromechanical systems in a generally overlooked situation: when the electronic transport is slower than the natural frequency of the oscillator. Here, a semi-classical model is no longer valid and we develop the missing fully quantum approach. Moreover, we go beyond the wide-band limit and study the consequence of maintaining energy dependent tunneling rates, which are required to describe effects found in real devices. To benchmark our results, we compare with numerically exact results obtained with the hierarchical equations of motion method, and find overall good agreements in the experimentally accessible steady state regime. Furthermore, we derive from the microscopic model a ready to use particle current expression that replicates features already observed experimentally.