Fluctuation theorem for counting-statistics in electron transport through quantum junctions

TL;DR

This paper establishes a fluctuation theorem for electron counting statistics in quantum junctions, validated through a quantum master equation approach, revealing antibunching and finite-time effects in electron transport.

Contribution

It introduces a fluctuation theorem for full counting statistics in quantum transport, combining quantum master equations with a Liouville space generating function formalism.

Findings

FT valid for long binning times in quantum dot models

Finite-time deviations from the FT are estimated

Electron transfer exhibits subpoissonian (antibunching) statistics

Abstract

We demonstrate that the probability distribution of the net number of electrons passing through a quantum system in a junction obeys a steady-state fluctuation theorem (FT) which can be tested experimentally by the full counting statistics (FCS) of electrons crossing the lead-system interface. The FCS is calculated using a many-body quantum master equation (QME) combined with a Liouville space generating function (GF) formalism. For a model of two coupled quantum dots, we show that the FT becomes valid for long binning times and provide an estimate for the finite-time deviations. We also demonstrate that the Mandel (or Fano) parameter associated with the incoming or outgoing electron transfers show subpoissonian (antibunching) statistics.