We investigate memory effects and quantum transport in two-dimensional lattice systems within the framework of non-equilibrium Green's functions and Schwinger-Keldysh non-equilibrium quantum field theory. Starting from a 2D tight-binding Hamiltonian, we employ the Dyson expansion on the Keldysh contour and the second-order Born and self-consistent Born Approximation to derive the electronic self-energies associated with elastic and inelastic scattering mechanisms.Static disorder produces a local self-energy and a rapidly decaying memory kernel, characteristic of Markovian dynamics, whereas electron-phonon coupling generates temporally nonlocal self-energies and genuine Non-Markovian behavior. We demonstrate that these distinct memory signatures are directly reflected in the spectral function, which we propose as a diagnostic probe of non-equilibrium memory effects. Further we explore 1PI and 2PI effective actions to see their memory perspectives studying their coarse-graining behavior. Building on this theoretical framework, we further apply the conventional NEGF formalism to two paradigmatic two-dimensional models-the Hofstadter and an RKKY-coupled system to explore how different microscopic Hamiltonians influence Markovian and Non-Markovian nature. Our results provide a unified connection between scattering mechanisms, memory effects, and quantum transport in low-dimensional systems.
We investigate memory effects and quantum transport in two-dimensional lattice systems within the framework of non-equilibrium Green's functions and Schwinger-Keldysh non-equilibrium quantum field theory. Starting from a 2D tight-binding Hamiltonian, we employ the Dyson expansion on the Keldysh contour and the second-order Born and self-consistent Born Approximation to derive the electronic self-energies associated with elastic and inelastic scattering mechanisms.Static disorder produces a local self-energy and a rapidly decaying memory kernel, characteristic of Markovian dynamics, whereas electron-phonon coupling generates temporally nonlocal self-energies and genuine Non-Markovian behavior. We demonstrate that these distinct memory signatures are directly reflected in the spectral function, which we propose as a diagnostic probe of non-equilibrium memory effects. Further we explore 1PI and 2PI effective actions to see their memory perspectives studying their coarse-graining behavior. Building on this theoretical framework, we further apply the conventional NEGF formalism to two paradigmatic two-dimensional models-the Hofstadter and an RKKY-coupled system to explore how different microscopic Hamiltonians influence Markovian and Non-Markovian nature. Our results provide a unified connection between scattering mechanisms, memory effects, and quantum transport in low-dimensional systems.
The method of nonequilibrium Green functions (NEGFs) constitutes a solid framework to describe closed and open quantum systems. It captures situations far from equilibrium including arbitrary perturbations and correlations - effects higher than first order in the binary interactions. On the contrary, in the absence of external fields, it reduces to the imaginary-time Matsubara formalism. The abilities (and successes) of the method originate from its self-consistency and the conserving character of many-body approximations that are introduced by diagram technique. On this account, NEGFs have, now for a long time, brought insight into the dynamics of nuclear matter, non-ideal quantum gases and (semiconductor) plasmas. However, applications to localized, finite and strongly interacting systems have emerged only within the recent decade. The dynamical properties follow from quantum kinetic equations - the two-time Kadanoff-Baym equations for the one-particle NEGF - the numerical solution of which is the central topic of this thesis. The non-Markovian structure of these equations thereby inhibits an unlimited, gradual propagation of the nonequilibrium Green function: Any self-consistent, future dynamics of the system is tightly linked to the (complete) past by non-local self-energies. Further, the success in obtaining solutions is being diminished if the system under investigation is not isotropic or inhomogeneous and, in addition, the spatial topology (e.g., the charge carrier or spin density) needs to be resolved in time. On top of this, small isolated systems are generally not candidates showing fast decoherence which offers little hope for smooth and well-damped integration kernels. Despite these difficulties, the thesis at hand is devoted to the computation of the two-time NEGF for finite, closed systems of which ensembles of electrons bound by nuclei forming atoms or molecules are the most natural representatives. Here, in the spirit of the well-studied one-dimensional helium atom, the electron dynamics in model atoms and molecules is addressed in ab initio fashion. To render calculations possible in the first place, (i) a novel hybrid representation of the NEGF is introduced based on the conception of finite elements (FE) and the discrete variable representation (DVR), and (ii) a parallel algorithm is developed that allows for an efficient, well scalable distributed-memory computation of the full two-time Green function. The first point attributes plenty of flexibility and makes the method readily adjustable to different Hamiltonians avoiding the need to, by hand or in intricate numerical manner, calculate the whole bunch of matrix elements of one- and two-particle operators. Also, in consequence, it drastically simplifies the evaluation of self-energies. The second point makes the NEGF approach ready for large-scale, high-performance computing facilities, the resources (of computer power: mainly memory!) of which are indispensable for (some of) the calculations presented. The applicability of the developed methods is demonstrated inter alia on the basis of helium, beryllium, hydrogen and lithium hydride modeled in one spatial dimension whereby electron-electron correlations are treated in the second(-order) Born approximation. After a thorough discussion on the self-consistent ground states, the thesis focuses on the electron dynamics in the linear response regime as well as in the presence of strong external fields. Overall, to assess the the performance of the second Born approximation, the results are compared to the Hartree-Fock approximation, on the one hand, and to the exact solution of the time-(in)dependent Schrödinger equation, on the other hand. In addition, aiming at the possibility of extended time-dependent calculations, the behavior of the generalized Kadanoff-Baym ansatz is discussed.
The method of nonequilibrium Green functions (NEGFs) constitutes a solid framework to describe closed and open quantum systems. It captures situations far from equilibrium including arbitrary perturbations and correlations - effects higher than first order in the binary interactions. On the contrary, in the absence of external fields, it reduces to the imaginary-time Matsubara formalism. The abilities (and successes) of the method originate from its self-consistency and the conserving character of many-body approximations that are introduced by diagram technique. On this account, NEGFs have, now for a long time, brought insight into the dynamics of nuclear matter, non-ideal quantum gases and (semiconductor) plasmas. However, applications to localized, finite and strongly interacting systems have emerged only within the recent decade. The dynamical properties follow from quantum kinetic equations - the two-time Kadanoff-Baym equations for the one-particle NEGF - the numerical solution of which is the central topic of this thesis. The non-Markovian structure of these equations thereby inhibits an unlimited, gradual propagation of the nonequilibrium Green function: Any self-consistent, future dynamics of the system is tightly linked to the (complete) past by non-local self-energies. Further, the success in obtaining solutions is being diminished if the system under investigation is not isotropic or inhomogeneous and, in addition, the spatial topology (e.g., the charge carrier or spin density) needs to be resolved in time. On top of this, small isolated systems are generally not candidates showing fast decoherence which offers little hope for smooth and well-damped integration kernels. Despite these difficulties, the thesis at hand is devoted to the computation of the two-time NEGF for finite, closed systems of which ensembles of electrons bound by nuclei forming atoms or molecules are the most natural representatives. Here, in the spirit of the well-studied one-dimensional helium atom, the electron dynamics in model atoms and molecules is addressed in ab initio fashion. To render calculations possible in the first place, (i) a novel hybrid representation of the NEGF is introduced based on the conception of finite elements (FE) and the discrete variable representation (DVR), and (ii) a parallel algorithm is developed that allows for an efficient, well scalable distributed-memory computation of the full two-time Green function. The first point attributes plenty of flexibility and makes the method readily adjustable to different Hamiltonians avoiding the need to, by hand or in intricate numerical manner, calculate the whole bunch of matrix elements of one- and two-particle operators. Also, in consequence, it drastically simplifies the evaluation of self-energies. The second point makes the NEGF approach ready for large-scale, high-performance computing facilities, the resources (of computer power: mainly memory!) of which are indispensable for (some of) the calculations presented. The applicability of the developed methods is demonstrated inter alia on the basis of helium, beryllium, hydrogen and lithium hydride modeled in one spatial dimension whereby electron-electron correlations are treated in the second(-order) Born approximation. After a thorough discussion on the self-consistent ground states, the thesis focuses on the electron dynamics in the linear response regime as well as in the presence of strong external fields. Overall, to assess the the performance of the second Born approximation, the results are compared to the Hartree-Fock approximation, on the one hand, and to the exact solution of the time-(in)dependent Schrödinger equation, on the other hand. In addition, aiming at the possibility of extended time-dependent calculations, the behavior of the generalized Kadanoff-Baym ansatz is discussed.
Abstract We review one of the most versatile theoretical approaches to the study of time-dependent correlated quantum transport in nano-systems: the non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) formalism. Within this formalism, one can treat, on the same footing, inter-particle interactions, external drives and/or perturbations, and coupling to baths with a (piece-wise) continuum set of degrees of freedom. After a historical overview on the theory of transport in quantum systems, we present a modern introduction of the NEGF approach to quantum transport. We discuss the inclusion of inter-particle interactions using diagrammatic techniques, and the use of the so-called embedding and inbedding techniques which take the bath couplings into account non-perturbatively. In various limits, such as the non-interacting limit and the steady-state limit, we then show how the NEGF formalism elegantly reduces to well-known formulae in quantum transport as special cases. We then discuss non-equilibrium transport in general, for both particle and energy currents. Under the presence of a time-dependent drive—encompassing pump–probe scenarios as well as driven quantum systems—we discuss the transient as well as asymptotic behavior, and also how to use NEGF to infer information on the out-of-equilibrium system. As illustrative examples, we consider model systems general enough to pave the way to realistic systems. These examples encompass one- and two-dimensional electronic systems, systems with electron–phonon couplings, topological superconductors, and optically responsive molecular junctions where electron–photon couplings are relevant.
Full understanding of the relaxation mechanisms and far-from-equilibrium transport in modern mesoscopic structures requires that such systems be treated as open. We therefore generalize some of the core elements of the Kadanoff-Baym-Keldysh nonequilibrium Green's function formalism, inherently formulated for closed systems, to treatment of an open system, coupled with its environment. We define the two-time correlation functions and analyze the influence of the memory effects on the open-system transport. In the transient regime, the two-time correlation functions clearly show four distinct terms: a closed-system-like term, an entanglement term, and two memory terms that depend explicitly on the initial state of the environment. We show that it is not possible to completely eliminate the influence of the environment by a fortunate choice of the initial state, and approximating the system as closed is valid only in the limit of negligible system-environment coupling, which is never the case in the transient regime. We derive the transport equations for transients that properly account for the system-environment coupling. On the other hand, we address the important issue of transport in a far-from-equilibrium steady state. We show that, once a steady state is reached, the balance between the driving and relaxation forces implies that the two-time correlation functions regain a closed-system-like form, but with an effective, modified system Hamiltonian, and with the system statistical operator unrelated to that of the initial state. We emphasize that the difference between the transient and the far-from-equilibrium steady-state regimes, crucial for theoretical investigation of nonequilibrium quasiparticle transport, effectively lies within the different relative magnitude of the combined entanglement and memory terms with respect to the closed-system-like term in two-time correlation functions.
The nonequilibrium interplay of electrons and phonons plays an important role in the thermalization of solids, yet the microscopic picture of transient states and relaxation pathways remains incomplete. Previous nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) studies with full two-time dependence were restricted to local phonons and local self-energy approximations, leaving momentum-dependent phonon dynamics largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate the recently developed quantics-tensor-train (QTT) NEGF framework via large-scale lattice simulations of models with arbitrary phonon dispersions. QTTs provide a memory-efficient representation of full two-time Green's functions, enabling momentum-resolved simulations with full electron-phonon feedback on lattices up to 256x256 sites. Comparing optical and acoustic phonon models, we reveal a hierarchy of relaxation bottlenecks that extends the well-known phonon-window bottleneck effect. For optical phonons, we confirm the main phonon-energy window and uncover an additional reduced window separating momentum-space regions with excess and deficit electronic population. We also identify a separate phonon-thermalization bottleneck rooted in momentum-dependent coupling to the particle-hole continuum. High momentum and frequency resolution makes the phonon--charge correspondence directly visible. For acoustic phonons, the phonon-energy window acquires pronounced momentum dependence dictated by energy and momentum conservation. The reduced window becomes asymmetric, and directional scattering between Brillouin-zone regions produces a persistent bottleneck for low-momentum phonon modes. Our results establish diagrammatic QTT-NEGF simulations as a scalable framework for quantitative nonequilibrium electron-phonon dynamics, overcoming previous lattice-size and propagation-time limitations and providing accurate reference data for time-resolved spectroscopies.
The nonequilibrium Green's function formalism provides a versatile and powerful framework for numerical studies of nonequilibrium phenomena in correlated many-body systems. For calculations starting from an equilibrium initial state, a standard approach consists of discretizing the Kadanoff-Baym contour and implementing a causal time-stepping scheme in which the self-energy of the system plays the role of a memory kernel. This approach becomes computationally expensive at long times, because of the convolution integrals and the large amount of computer memory needed to store the Green's functions. A recent idea for the compression of nonequilibrium Green's functions is the quantics tensor train representation. Here, we explore this approach by implementing equilibrium and nonequilibrium simulations of the two-dimensional Hubbard model with a second-order weak-coupling approximation to the self-energy. We show that calculations with compressed two-time functions are possible without any loss of accuracy, and that the quantics tensor train implementation shows a much improved scaling of the computational effort and memory demand with the length of the time contour.