Coupled electron and phonon transport in one-dimensional atomic junctions

Abstract

Employing the nonequilibrium Green's function method, we develop a fully quantum mechanical model to study the coupled electron-phonon transport in one-dimensional atomic junctions connecting to one-dimensional leads. This model enables us to study the electronic and phononic transport on an equal footing. We derive the electrical and energy currents of the coupled electron-phonon system and present a self-consistent picture of energy exchange between them. As an application, we study the heat dissipation in current-carrying atomic junctions with metallic and semiconductor leads. We find that the inclusion of phonon transport is important in determining the heat dissipation and temperature change of the atomic junctions. © 2007 The American Physical Society.