One-dimensional ballistic transport of electrons

Abstract

The paper studies a number of theoretical problems that are expected to have relevance to electron transport through low-dimensional structures. The principal idea is that all the electrons should be regarded as being in orthonormal wave packets which develop in time according to a Schrodinger equation that contains a selfconsistent potential energy. Various forms for this potential energy are considered, though no attempt is made to ensure selfconsistency. Since the wave packets are not usually eigen-states of the Hamiltonian the electronic distribution develops in time, to produce currents when voltages are applied across electrodes that bound the ballistic regions. The paper includes a discussion of the quantum mechanical description of electrodes (collision-dominated regions) as well as an examination of the ballistic propagation of orthonormal wave packets.