Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1003.1992 · Europhysics Letters (EPL)

Kubo formula for open finite-size systems

Jinshan Wu, Mona Berciu

Published Nov 1, 2010• 10 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We derive a Kubo-type formula that describes proper non-equilibrium stationary states for finite-size systems. We first argue that the usual Kubo formula considers only equilibrium states of the perturbed system, which are inappropriate to describe transport properties. Moreover, we show that the standard Kubo formula for the dc conductance is only appropriate in the thermodynamic limit. We demonstrate that taking into consideration explicitly the coupling to the leads/baths solves both problems. This approach results in well-behaved response functions, without the singular contributions from degenerate states encountered when Kubo formulae for infinite-size systems are inappropriately used for finite-size systems. We also derive a second, more efficient formulation which is valid only for a set of special physical quantities, which includes the charge current density operator.

DOI
10.1209/0295-5075/92/30003

Related papers

Nonequilibrium steady-state Kubo formula: Equality of transport coefficients

Marko Žnidarič

We address the question of whether transport coefficients obtained from a unitary closed system setting, i.e., the standard equilibrium Green-Kubo formula, are the same as the ones obtained from a weakly driven nonequilibrium steady-state calculation. We first derive a nonequilibrium Kubo-like expression for the steady-state diffusion constant expressed as a time integral of either a current or a conserved density nonequilibrium correlation function. This expression has certain advantages over the equilibrium Green-Kubo formula, but it is not clear if it gives the same value of the diffusion constant. We then rigorously show that if the unitary dynamics is diffusive, the nonequilibrium formula indeed gives exactly the same transport coefficient. The form of finite-size correction is also predicted. Theoretical results are verified by an explicit calculation of the diffusion constant in several interacting many-body models.

arXiv:1806.11050•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Jan 22, 2019•28 citations

Justifying Kubo’s formula for gapped systems at zero temperature: A brief review and some new results

Joscha Henheik, Stefan Teufel

We first review the problem of a rigorous justification of Kubo’s formula for transport coefficients in gapped extended Hamiltonian quantum systems at zero temperature. In particular, the theoretical understanding of the quantum Hall effect rests on the validity of Kubo’s formula for such systems, a connection that we review briefly as well. We then highlight an approach to linear response theory based on non-equilibrium almost-stationary states (NEASS) and on a corresponding adiabatic theorem for such systems that was recently proposed and worked out by one of us in [51] for interacting fermionic systems on finite lattices. In the second part of our paper, we show how to lift the results of [51] to infinite systems by taking a thermodynamic limit.

arXiv:2002.08669•Reviews in Mathematical Physics•Feb 21, 2020•18 citations

Linear response formula for open systems

Onuttom Narayan

An exact expression for the finite frequency response of open classical systems coupled to reservoirs is obtained. The result is valid for any conserved current. No assumption is made about the reservoirs apart from thermodynamic equilibrium. At nonzero frequencies, the expression involves correlation functions of boundary currents and cannot be put in the standard Green-Kubo form involving currents inside the system.

arXiv:1104.2114•Physical Review E•Jun 10, 2011•9 citations

From charge to spin: Analogies and differences in quantum transport coefficients

Giovanna Marcelli, Domenico Monaco

We review some recent results from the mathematical theory of transport of charge and spin in gapped crystalline quantum systems. The emphasis will be on transport coefficients, such as conductivities and conductances. As for the former, those are computed as appropriate expectations of current operators in a non-equilibrium almost-stationary state (NEASS), which arises from the perturbation of an equilibrium state by an external electric field. While for charge transport the usual double-commutator Kubo formula is recovered (also beyond linear response), we obtain formulas for appropriately defined spin conductivities, which are still explicit but more involved. Certain “Kubo-like” terms in these formulas are also shown to agree with the corresponding contributions to the spin conductance. In addition to that, we employ similar techniques to show a new result, namely that even in systems with non-conserved spin, there is no generation of spin torque, that is, the spin torque operator has an expectation in the NEASS which vanishes faster than any power of the intensity of the perturbing field.

arXiv:2203.08044•Journal of Mathematical Physics•Jul 1, 2022•5 citations

New formulation of the Kubo Optical Conductivity: a Shortcut to Transport Properties

G. De Filippis, V. Cataudella, ANTONIO DE CANDIA +2 more

The Kubo formula for the electrical conductivity is rewritten in terms of a sum of Drude-like contributions associated to the exact eigenstates of the interacting system, each characterized by its own frequency-dependent relaxation time. The structure of the novel and equivalent formulation, weighting the contribution from each eigenstate by its Boltzmann occupation factor, simplifies considerably the access to the static properties (dc conductivity) and resolves the long standing difficulties to recover the Boltzmann result for dc conductivity from the Kubo formula. It is shown that the Boltzmann result, containing the correct transport scattering time instead of the electron lifetime determined by the Green function, can be recovered in problems with elastic and inelastic scattering at the lowest order of interaction.

arXiv:1406.2917•Jun 11, 2014•0 citations

Superfluid Kubo formulas from partition function

Shira Chapman, Carlos Hoyos, Yaron Oz

Linear response theory relates hydrodynamic transport coefficients to equilibrium retarded correlation functions of the stress-energy tensor and global symmetry currents in terms of Kubo formulas. Some of these transport coefficients are non-dissipative and affect the fluid dynamics at equilibrium. We present an algebraic framework for deriving Kubo formulas for such thermal transport coefficients by using the equilibrium partition function. We use the framework to derive Kubo formulas for all such transport coefficients of superfluids, as well as to rederive Kubo formulas for various normal fluid systems.

arXiv:1310.2247•Journal of High Energy Physics•Apr 1, 2014•8 citations
We derive a Kubo-type formula that describes proper non-equilibrium stationary states for finite-size systems. We first argue that the usual Kubo formula considers only equilibrium states of the perturbed system, which are inappropriate to describe transport properties. Moreover, we show that the standard Kubo formula for the dc conductance is only appropriate in the thermodynamic limit. We demonstrate that taking into consideration explicitly the coupling to the leads/baths solves both problems. This approach results in well-behaved response functions, without the singular contributions from degenerate states encountered when Kubo formulae for infinite-size systems are inappropriately used for finite-size systems. We also derive a second, more efficient formulation which is valid only for a set of special physical quantities, which includes the charge current density operator.
We address the question of whether transport coefficients obtained from a unitary closed system setting, i.e., the standard equilibrium Green-Kubo formula, are the same as the ones obtained from a weakly driven nonequilibrium steady-state calculation. We first derive a nonequilibrium Kubo-like expression for the steady-state diffusion constant expressed as a time integral of either a current or a conserved density nonequilibrium correlation function. This expression has certain advantages over the equilibrium Green-Kubo formula, but it is not clear if it gives the same value of the diffusion constant. We then rigorously show that if the unitary dynamics is diffusive, the nonequilibrium formula indeed gives exactly the same transport coefficient. The form of finite-size correction is also predicted. Theoretical results are verified by an explicit calculation of the diffusion constant in several interacting many-body models.
We first review the problem of a rigorous justification of Kubo’s formula for transport coefficients in gapped extended Hamiltonian quantum systems at zero temperature. In particular, the theoretical understanding of the quantum Hall effect rests on the validity of Kubo’s formula for such systems, a connection that we review briefly as well. We then highlight an approach to linear response theory based on non-equilibrium almost-stationary states (NEASS) and on a corresponding adiabatic theorem for such systems that was recently proposed and worked out by one of us in [51] for interacting fermionic systems on finite lattices. In the second part of our paper, we show how to lift the results of [51] to infinite systems by taking a thermodynamic limit.
We review some recent results from the mathematical theory of transport of charge and spin in gapped crystalline quantum systems. The emphasis will be on transport coefficients, such as conductivities and conductances. As for the former, those are computed as appropriate expectations of current operators in a non-equilibrium almost-stationary state (NEASS), which arises from the perturbation of an equilibrium state by an external electric field. While for charge transport the usual double-commutator Kubo formula is recovered (also beyond linear response), we obtain formulas for appropriately defined spin conductivities, which are still explicit but more involved. Certain “Kubo-like” terms in these formulas are also shown to agree with the corresponding contributions to the spin conductance. In addition to that, we employ similar techniques to show a new result, namely that even in systems with non-conserved spin, there is no generation of spin torque, that is, the spin torque operator has an expectation in the NEASS which vanishes faster than any power of the intensity of the perturbing field.
The Kubo formula for the electrical conductivity is rewritten in terms of a sum of Drude-like contributions associated to the exact eigenstates of the interacting system, each characterized by its own frequency-dependent relaxation time. The structure of the novel and equivalent formulation, weighting the contribution from each eigenstate by its Boltzmann occupation factor, simplifies considerably the access to the static properties (dc conductivity) and resolves the long standing difficulties to recover the Boltzmann result for dc conductivity from the Kubo formula. It is shown that the Boltzmann result, containing the correct transport scattering time instead of the electron lifetime determined by the Green function, can be recovered in problems with elastic and inelastic scattering at the lowest order of interaction.
Linear response theory relates hydrodynamic transport coefficients to equilibrium retarded correlation functions of the stress-energy tensor and global symmetry currents in terms of Kubo formulas. Some of these transport coefficients are non-dissipative and affect the fluid dynamics at equilibrium. We present an algebraic framework for deriving Kubo formulas for such thermal transport coefficients by using the equilibrium partition function. We use the framework to derive Kubo formulas for all such transport coefficients of superfluids, as well as to rederive Kubo formulas for various normal fluid systems.