Generalized multi-terminal decoherent transport: recursive algorithms and applications to SASER and giant magnetoresistance

Abstract

Decoherent transport in mesoscopic and nanoscopic systems can be formulated in terms of the D'Amato–Pastawski (DP) model. This generalizes the Landauer–Büttiker picture by considering a distribution of local decoherent processes. However, its generalization for multi-terminal set-ups is lacking. We first review the original two-terminal DP model for decoherent transport. Then, we extend it to a matrix formulation capable of dealing with multi-terminal problems. We also introduce recursive algorithms to evaluate the Green's functions for general banded Hamiltonians as well as local density of states, effective conductances and voltage profiles. We finally illustrate the method by analyzing two problems of current relevance. (1) Assessing the role of decoherence in a model for phonon lasers (SASER). (2) Obtaining the classical limit of giant magnetoresistance from a spin-dependent Hamiltonian. The presented methods should pave the way for computationally demanding calculations of transport through nanodevices, bridging the gap between fully coherent quantum schemes and semiclassical ones.