A quantum coherent approach to transport and noise in double barrier resonant diodes: shot noise a way to distinguish coherent from sequential tunneling

TL;DR

This paper presents a quantum approach to analyze transport and shot noise in double barrier resonant diodes, demonstrating that shot noise suppression below 0.5 Fano factor indicates coherent tunneling, distinguishing it from sequential tunneling.

Contribution

The study introduces a quantum model including Coulomb interactions to differentiate coherent from sequential tunneling via shot noise analysis in diodes.

Findings

Shot noise can be suppressed below Fano factor 0.5 in coherent tunneling.

The model reproduces current-voltage characteristics across temperature ranges.

Suppression of shot noise is due to Pauli principle and Coulomb interactions.

Abstract

We implement a quantum approach which includes long range Coulomb interaction and investigate current voltage characteristics and shot noise in double barrier resonant diodes. Theory applies to the region of low applied voltages up to the region of the current peak and considers the wide temperature range from zero to room temperature. The shape of the current voltage characteristic is well reproduced and we confirm that even in the presence of Coulomb interaction shot noise can be suppressed with a Fano factor well below the value of 0.5. This feature is a signature of coherent tunnelling since the standard sequential tunnelling predicts in general a Fano factor equal to or greater than the value 0.5. This giant suppression is a consequence of Pauli principle as well as long range Coulomb interaction. The theory generalizes previous findings and is compared with experiments.