Incorporating electron-photon interactions in the transport of electrons in a linear chain subjected to a time-dependent light source

Abstract

We study electron transport in a linear chain consisting of semi-infinite left and right leads connected via a central region that is illuminated by a time-dependent light source. We define the electron current as proportional to the time derivative of the electron number density in the region and express it in terms of two-time nonequilibrium Green’s functions. We consider the electrons to be freely propagating along the left and right leads. However, at the central region we incorporate time-dependent electron-photon interactions to model the effect of the light source on the electron current. In addition, we would like to see whether the interaction is sufficient enough to modulate the flow of electrons through the device and thereby producing a transistor-like effect but without employing a gate potential.