Inelastic resonant tunneling through single molecules and quantum dots: spectrum modification due to nonequilibrium effects

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nonequilibrium effects influence inelastic resonant tunneling through quantum dots and molecules, revealing that spectral functions depend on voltage and require self-consistent calculations.

Contribution

It introduces a nonequilibrium Green function approach to account for voltage-dependent spectral modifications in electron-phonon interacting mesoscopic systems.

Findings

Spectral functions depend on applied voltage.

Inelastic scattering rates are voltage-dependent.

Self-consistent calculations are necessary for accurate spectra.

Abstract

Resonant electron transport through a mesoscopic region (quantum dot or single molecule) with electron-phonon interaction is considered at finite voltage. In this case the standard Landauer-B\"uttiker approach cannot be applied. Using the nonequilibrium Green function method we show that due to a nonequilibrium distribution function of electrons in the mesoscopic region, the inelastic scattering rate and spectral function of the dot become functions of the voltage and have to be calculated self-consistently.