Quantum Transport from the Perspective of Quantum Open Systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum transport formalism based on quantum open systems, enabling precise modeling of correlations and novel phenomena like the non-equilibrium Kondo effect, and proposes a new approach for time-dependent density functional theory in complex systems.

Contribution

It presents a reduced-density-matrix formalism for quantum transport that accurately captures correlations and introduces a new method for time-dependent density functional theory in large systems.

Findings

Accurately models correlation effects in quantum transport.

Reveals non-equilibrium Kondo effect behavior.

Proposes a new framework for time-dependent density functional theory.

Abstract

By viewing the non-equilibrium transport setup as a quantum open system, we propose a reduced-density-matrix based quantum transport formalism. At the level of self-consistent Born approximation, it can precisely account for the correlation between tunneling and the system internal many-body interaction, leading to certain novel behavior such as the non-equilibrium Kondo effect. It also opens a new way to construct time-dependent density functional theory for transport through large-scale complex systems.