Quantum Shuttle in Phase Space

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum phase space framework to analyze shuttle instability in nanoelectromechanical systems, revealing a quantum noise-driven shuttling regime and extending classical results into the quantum domain.

Contribution

It introduces a phase space quantum theory for shuttle instability, identifying a novel quantum noise-driven shuttling regime not seen in classical models.

Findings

Identifies a quantum noise-driven shuttling regime.

Extends classical shuttle instability results to quantum systems.

Uses Wigner function to analyze quantum transport dynamics.

Abstract

We present a quantum theory of the shuttle instability in electronic transport through a nanostructure with a mechanical degree of freedom. A phase space formulation in terms of the Wigner function allows us to identify a cross-over from the tunnelling to the shuttling regime, thus extending the previously found classical results to the quantum domain. Further, a new dynamical regime is discovered, where the shuttling is driven exclusively by the quantum noise.