13 research outputs found
Resistivity of a Metal between the Boltzmann Transport Regime and the Anderson Transition
We study the transport properties of a finite three dimensional disordered
conductor, for both weak and strong scattering on impurities, employing the
real-space Green function technique and related Landauer-type formula. The
dirty metal is described by a nearest neighbor tight-binding Hamiltonian with a
single s-orbital per site and random on-site potential (Anderson model). We
compute exactly the zero-temperature conductance of a finite size sample placed
between two semi-infinite disorder-free leads. The resistivity is found from
the coefficient of linear scaling of the disorder averaged resistance with
sample length. This ``quantum'' resistivity is compared to the semiclassical
Boltzmann expression computed in both Born approximation and multiple
scattering approximation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 embedded EPS figure
Density functional method for nonequilibrium electron transport
We describe an ab initio method for calculating the electronic structure,
electronic transport, and forces acting on the atoms, for atomic scale systems
connected to semi-infinite electrodes and with an applied voltage bias. Our
method is based on the density functional theory (DFT) as implemented in the
well tested Siesta approach (which uses non-local norm-conserving
pseudopotentials to describe the effect of the core electrons, and linear
combination of finite-range numerical atomic orbitals to describe the valence
states). We fully deal with the atomistic structure of the whole system,
treating both the contact and the electrodes on the same footing. The effect of
the finite bias (including selfconsistency and the solution of the
electrostatic problem) is taken into account using nonequilibrium Green's
functions. We relate the nonequilibrium Green's function expressions to the
more transparent scheme involving the scattering states. As an illustration,
the method is applied to three systems where we are able to compare our results
to earlier ab initio DFT calculations or experiments, and we point out
differences between this method and existing schemes. The systems considered
are: (1) single atom carbon wires connected to aluminum electrodes with
extended or finite cross section, (2) single atom gold wires, and finally (3)
large carbon nanotube systems with point defects.Comment: 18 pages, 23 figure
Electronic Transport in Hybrid Mesoscopic Structures: A Nonequilibrium Green Function Approach
We present a unified transport theory of hybrid structures, in which a
confined normal state () sample is sandwiched between two leads each of
which can be either a ferromagnet () or a superconductor () via tunnel
barriers. By introducing a four-dimensional Nambu-spinor space, a general
current formula is derived within the Keldysh nonequilibrium Green function
formalism, which can be applied to various kinds of hybrid mesoscopic systems
with strong correlations even in the nonequilibrium situation. Such a formula
is gauge invariant. We also demonstrate analytically for some quantities, such
as the difference between chemical potentials, superconductor order parameter
phases and ferromagnetic magnetization orientations, that only their relative
value appears explicitly in the current expression. When applied to specific
structures, the formula becomes of the Meir-Wingreen-type favoring strong
correlation effects, and reduces to the Landauer-B\"uttiker-type in
noninteracting systems such as the double-barrier resonant structures, which we
study in detail beyond the wide-band approximation.Comment: 24 pages, 12 eps figures, Revtex
Josephson charge qubits:a brief review
The field of solid-state quantum computation is expanding rapidly initiated by our original charge qubit demonstrations. Various types of solid-state qubits are being studied, and their coherent properties are improving. The goal of this review is to summarize achievements on Josephson charge qubits. We cover the results obtained in our joint group of NEC Nano Electronics Research Laboratories and RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, also referring to the works done by other groups. Starting from a short introduction, we describe the principle of the Josephson charge qubit, its manipulation and readout. We proceed with coupling of two charge qubits and implementation of a logic gate. We also discuss decoherence issues. Finally, we show how a charge qubit can be used as an artificial atom coupled to a resonator to demonstrate lasing action