Frequency-dependent current correlation functions from scattering theory

J. Salo, F. W. J. Hekking, and J. P. Pekola
Phys. Rev. B 74, 125427 – Published 29 September 2006

Abstract

We present a general formalism based on scattering theory to calculate quantum correlation functions involving several time-dependent current operators. A key ingredient is the causality of the scattering matrix, which allows one to deal with arbitrary correlation functions. The formalism proves useful, e.g., in view of recent developments in full counting statistics of charge transfer, where detecting schemes have been proposed for measurement of frequency dependent spectra of higher moments. Some of these schemes are different from the well-known fictitious spin detector and therefore generally involve calculation of non-Keldysh-contour-ordered correlation functions. As an illustration of the approach we consider various third order correlation functions of current, including the usual third cumulant of current statistics. We investigate the frequency dependence of these correlation functions explicitly in the case of energy-independent scattering. The results can easily be generalized to the calculation of arbitrary nth order correlation functions, or to include the effect of interactions.

    • Received 2 June 2006

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.74.125427

    ©2006 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    J. Salo

    • Laboratory of Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, P.O. Box 4100, 02015 TKK, Finland

    F. W. J. Hekking

    • Laboratoire de Physique et Modélisation des Milieux Condensés, CNRS & Université Joseph Fourier, Boîte Postal 166, 38042 Grenoble cedex 09, France

    J. P. Pekola

    • Low Temperature Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology, P.O. Box 3500, 02015 TKK, Finland

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    Issue

    Vol. 74, Iss. 12 — 15 September 2006

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