Current and current fluctuations in quantum shuttles.pdfVIP

Current and current fluctuations in quantum shuttles Antti–Pekka Jauho,1, ∗ Christian Flindt,1, † Tom´aˇs Novotn´y,1, 2, ‡ and Andrea Donarini1, § 4 0 1MIC - Department of Micro and Nanotechnology, 0 2 Technical University of Denmark, DTU - Building 345east, v o DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark N 2 Department of Electronic Structures, 8 ] Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, l l Ke Karlovu 5, 121 16 Prague, Czech Republic a h - (Dated: February 2, 2008) s e m Abstract . t a We review the properties of electron shuttles, i.e. nanoelectromechanical devices that transport m - electrons one-by-one by utilizing a combination of electronic and mechanical degrees of freedom. d n We focus on the extreme quantum limit, where the mechanical motion is quantized. We introduce o c the main theoretical tools needed for the analysis, e.g. generalized master equations and Wigner [ 1 functions, and we outline the methods how the resulting large numerical problems can be handled. v 0 Illustrative results are given for current, noise, and full counting statistics for a number of model 9 1 systems. Throughout the review we focus on the physics behind the various approximations, and 1 1 some simple examples are given to illustrate the theoretical concepts. We also comment on the 4 0 experimental situation. / t a m PACS numbers: 85.85.+j, 72.70.+m, 73.23.Hk, 73.63.-b - d n o c : v i X r a