Berry-phase effects in transport through single Jahn-Teller molecules

TL;DR

This paper theoretically explores how the Berry phase influences electron transport in single Jahn-Teller molecules, revealing a current blockade and negative differential conductance caused by spectral trapping effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel understanding of Berry phase effects on transport in Jahn-Teller molecules, highlighting mechanisms for current blockade outside Coulomb blockade regions.

Findings

Berry phase causes current blockade in transport.

Spectral trapping leads to asymmetric blockade.

Negative differential conductance observed.

Abstract

The vibrational modes of Jahn-Teller molecules are affected by a Berry phase that is associated with a conical intersection of the adiabatic potentials. We investigate theoretically how this Berry phase affects transport through a single $E \otimes e$ Jahn-Teller molecule when the tunneling electrons continually switch the molecule between a symmetric and a Jahn-Teller distorted charge state. We find that the Berry phase in conjunction with a spectral trapping mechanism leads to a current blockade even in regions outside the Coulomb blockade. The blockade is strongly asymmetric in the gate voltage and induces pronounced negative differential conductance.