Non-equilibrium Transport in dissipative one-dimensional Nanostructures

Abstract

We study the non-equilibrium transport properties of a one-dimensional array of dissipative quantum dots. Using the Keldysh formalism, we show that the dots' dissipative nature leads to a spatial variation of the chemical potential, which in disordered arrays, breaks the invariance of the current, I, under bias reversal. Moreover, the array's nanoscopic size results in an algebraic low-temperature dependence of I. Finally, we show that a local Coulomb interaction splits the dots' electronic levels, resulting in a Coulomb blockade, which is softened with increasing dissipation and array size.

4 pages, 4 figures