Simple models suffice for the single dot quantum shuttle

Abstract

A quantum shuttle is an archetypical nanoelectromechanical device, where the mechanical degree of freedom is quantized. Using a full-scale numerical solution of the generalized master equation describing the shuttle, we have recently shown [Novotný {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 92}, 248302 (2004)] that for certain limits of the shuttle parameters one can distinguish three distinct charge transport mechanisms: (i) an incoherent tunneling regime, (ii) a shuttling regime, where the charge transport is synchronous with the mechanical motion, and (iii) a coexistence regime, where the device switches between the tunneling and shuttling regimes. While a study of the cross-over between these three regimes requires the full numerics, we show here that by identifying the appropriate time-scales it is possible to derive vastly simpler equations for each of the three regimes. The simplified equations allow a clear physical interpretation, are easily solved, and are in good agreement with the full numerics in their respective domains of validity.

23 pages, 14 figures, invited paper for the Focus issue of the New Journal of Physics on Nano-electromechanical systems

References in corpus (6)

• Full counting statistics of nano-electromechanical systems
• Shot Noise of a Quantum Shuttle
• Current noise in a vibrating quantum dot array
• Transport Statistics of Bistable Systems
• The charge shuttle as a nanomechanical ratchet
• Spintronics of a Nanoelectromechanical Shuttle

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• Quantum entanglement driven by electron-vibrational mode coupling
• Phonon distributions of a single bath mode coupled to a quantum dot
• Dissipative nonequilibrium synchronization of topological edge states via self-oscillation
• Large current noise in nanoelectromechanical systems close to continuous mechanical instabilities
• Single-electron approach for time-dependent electron transport
• Current without bias and diode effect in shuttling transport of nanoshafts
• Nanoelectromechanical rotary current rectifier
• Superradiant-like dynamics by electron shuttling on a nuclear-spin island