Using detailed balance and scaling properties of integrals that appear in the Coulomb gas reformulation of quantum impurity problems, we establish exact relations between the nonequilibrium transfer rates of the boundary sine-Gordon and the anisotropic Kondo model at zero temperature. Combining these results with findings from the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz, we derive exact closed form expressions for the transfer rate in the biased spin-boson model in the scaling limit. They illustrate how the crossover from weak to strong tunneling takes place. Using a conjectured correspondence between the transfer and the decoherence rate, we also determine the exact lower bound for damping of the coherent oscillation as a function of bias and dissipation strength in this paradigmic model for nuclear magnetic resonance and superposition of macroscopically distinct states (qubits).Using detailed balance and scaling properties of integrals that appear in the Coulomb gas reformulation of quantum impurity problems, we establish exact relations between the nonequilibrium transfer rates of the boundary sine-Gordon and the anisotropic Kondo model at zero temperature. Combining these results with findings from the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz, we derive exact closed form expressions for the transfer rate in the biased spin-boson model in the scaling limit. They illustrate how the crossover from weak to strong tunneling takes place. Using a conjectured correspondence between the transfer and the decoherence rate, we also determine the exact lower bound for damping of the coherent oscillation as a function of bias and dissipation strength in this paradigmic model for nuclear magnetic resonance and superposition of macroscopically distinct states (qubits).

arXiv:cond-mat/0404021Physical Review BJul 21, 20049 citations

Nonequilibrium quantum dissipation in spin-fermion systems

Dvira Segal, David R. Reichman, Andrew J. Millis

Dissipative processes in nonequilibrium many-body systems are fundamentally different than their equilibrium counterparts. Such processes are of great importance for the understanding of relaxation in single-molecule devices. As a detailed case study, we investigate here a generic spin-fermion model, where a two-level system couples to two metallic leads with different chemical potentials. We present results for the spin relaxation rate in the nonadiabatic limit for an arbitrary coupling to the leads using both analytical and exact numerical methods. The nonequilibrium dynamics is reflected by an exponential relaxation at long times and via complex phase shifts, leading in some cases to an ``antiorthogonality'' effect. In the limit of strong system-lead coupling at zero temperature we demonstrate the onset of a Marcus-like Gaussian decay with voltage difference activation. This is analogous to the equilibrium spin-boson model, where at strong coupling and high temperatures, the spin excitation rate manifests temperature activated Gaussian behavior. We find that there is no simple linear relationship between the role of the temperature in the bosonic system and a voltage drop in a nonequilibrium electronic case. The two models also differ by the orthogonality-catastrophe factor existing in a fermionic system, which modifies the resulting line shapes. Implications for current characteristics are discussed. We demonstrate the violation of pairwise Coulomb gas behavior for strong coupling to the leads. The results presented in this paper form the basis of an exact, nonperturbative description of steady-state quantum dissipative systems.Dissipative processes in nonequilibrium many-body systems are fundamentally different than their equilibrium counterparts. Such processes are of great importance for the understanding of relaxation in single-molecule devices. As a detailed case study, we investigate here a generic spin-fermion model, where a two-level system couples to two metallic leads with different chemical potentials. We present results for the spin relaxation rate in the nonadiabatic limit for an arbitrary coupling to the leads using both analytical and exact numerical methods. The nonequilibrium dynamics is reflected by an exponential relaxation at long times and via complex phase shifts, leading in some cases to an ``antiorthogonality'' effect. In the limit of strong system-lead coupling at zero temperature we demonstrate the onset of a Marcus-like Gaussian decay with voltage difference activation. This is analogous to the equilibrium spin-boson model, where at strong coupling and high temperatures, the spin excitation rate manifests temperature activated Gaussian behavior. We find that there is no simple linear relationship between the role of the temperature in the bosonic system and a voltage drop in a nonequilibrium electronic case. The two models also differ by the orthogonality-catastrophe factor existing in a fermionic system, which modifies the resulting line shapes. Implications for current characteristics are discussed. We demonstrate the violation of pairwise Coulomb gas behavior for strong coupling to the leads. The results presented in this paper form the basis of an exact, nonperturbative description of steady-state quantum dissipative systems.

arXiv:0708.4372Physical Review BNov 16, 200746 citations

Dynamical properties of a nonequilibrium quantum dot close to a dissipative quantum phase transition

Chung‐Hou Chung

The dynamical decoherence rate and charge susceptibility of a nonequilibrium quantum dot close to a dissipative quantum phase transition are calculated. The setup concerns a resonance-level quantum dot coupled to two spinless fermionic baths with a finite bias voltage and an ohmic bosonic bath representing a dissipative environment. The system is equivalent to an anisotropic Kondo model. As dissipation strength increases, the system at zero temperature and zero bias exhibits a quantum phase transition of the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) type between a conducting delocalized phase and an insulating localized phase. Within the nonequilibrium frequency-dependent renormalization group (RG) approach, the finite bias crossover in dynamical decoherence rate and charge susceptibility close to the transition are addressed. The dynamical decoherence rate is found to increase with increasing frequency. In the delocalized phase, it shows a singularity at frequencies equal to positive or negative bias voltage. As the system cross overs to the localized phase, the decoherence rate at low frequencies gets progressively smaller and the singular feature is gradually smeared out, leading to a single linear frequency dependence. The dynamical charge susceptibility at low frequencies shows a dip-to-peak crossover across the transition. Relevance of these results to the experiments is discussed.The dynamical decoherence rate and charge susceptibility of a nonequilibrium quantum dot close to a dissipative quantum phase transition are calculated. The setup concerns a resonance-level quantum dot coupled to two spinless fermionic baths with a finite bias voltage and an ohmic bosonic bath representing a dissipative environment. The system is equivalent to an anisotropic Kondo model. As dissipation strength increases, the system at zero temperature and zero bias exhibits a quantum phase transition of the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) type between a conducting delocalized phase and an insulating localized phase. Within the nonequilibrium frequency-dependent renormalization group (RG) approach, the finite bias crossover in dynamical decoherence rate and charge susceptibility close to the transition are addressed. The dynamical decoherence rate is found to increase with increasing frequency. In the delocalized phase, it shows a singularity at frequencies equal to positive or negative bias voltage. As the system cross overs to the localized phase, the decoherence rate at low frequencies gets progressively smaller and the singular feature is gradually smeared out, leading to a single linear frequency dependence. The dynamical charge susceptibility at low frequencies shows a dip-to-peak crossover across the transition. Relevance of these results to the experiments is discussed.

arXiv:1008.3757Physical Review BMar 7, 20111 citation

Heat transfer in the spin-boson model: A comparative study in the incoherent tunneling regime

Dvira Segal

We study the transfer of heat in the nonequilibrium spin-boson model with an Ohmic dissipation. In the nonadiabatic limit we derive a formula for the thermal conductance based on a rate equation formalism at the level of the noninteracting blip approximation, valid for temperatures T>T(K), with T(K) as the Kondo temperature. We evaluate this expression analytically assuming either weak or strong couplings, and demonstrate that our results agree with exact relations. Far-from-equilibrium situations are further examined, showing a close correspondence to the linear response limit.We study the transfer of heat in the nonequilibrium spin-boson model with an Ohmic dissipation. In the nonadiabatic limit we derive a formula for the thermal conductance based on a rate equation formalism at the level of the noninteracting blip approximation, valid for temperatures T>T(K), with T(K) as the Kondo temperature. We evaluate this expression analytically assuming either weak or strong couplings, and demonstrate that our results agree with exact relations. Far-from-equilibrium situations are further examined, showing a close correspondence to the linear response limit.

arXiv:1405.6358Physical Review EJul 31, 201450 citations

Many-body wavefunctions for quantum impurities out of equilibrium. I. The nonequilibrium Kondo model

Adrian B. Culver, Natan Andrei

We present here the details of a method [A. B. Culver and N. Andrei, Many-body wavefunctions for quantum impurities out of equilibrium, Phys. Rev. B 103, L201103 (2021)] for calculating the time-dependent many-body wavefunction that follows a local quench. We apply the method to the voltage-driven nonequilibrium Kondo model to find the exact time-evolving wavefunction following a quench where the dot is suddenly attached to the leads at $t=0$ . The method, which does not use Bethe ansatz, also works in other quantum impurity models and may be of wider applicability. We show that the long-time limit (with the system size taken to infinity first) of the time-evolving wavefunction of the Kondo model is a current-carrying nonequilibrium steady state that satisfies the Lippmann-Schwinger equation. We show that the electric current in the time-evolving wavefunction is given by a series expression that can be expanded either in weak coupling or in strong coupling, converging to all orders in the steady-state limit in either case. The series agrees to leading order with known results in the well-studied regime of weak antiferromagnetic coupling and also reveals a universal regime of strong ferromagnetic coupling with Kondo temperature ${T}_{K}^{(F)}=D{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{3{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}}{8}\ensuremath{\rho}|J|}$ ($J<0, \ensuremath{\rho}|J|\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$). In this regime, the differential conductance $dI/dV$ reaches the unitarity limit $2{e}^{2}/h$ asymptotically at large voltage or temperature.We present here the details of a method [A. B. Culver and N. Andrei, Many-body wavefunctions for quantum impurities out of equilibrium, Phys. Rev. B 103, L201103 (2021)] for calculating the time-dependent many-body wavefunction that follows a local quench. We apply the method to the voltage-driven nonequilibrium Kondo model to find the exact time-evolving wavefunction following a quench where the dot is suddenly attached to the leads at $t=0$. The method, which does not use Bethe ansatz, also works in other quantum impurity models and may be of wider applicability. We show that the long-time limit (with the system size taken to infinity first) of the time-evolving wavefunction of the Kondo model is a current-carrying nonequilibrium steady state that satisfies the Lippmann-Schwinger equation. We show that the electric current in the time-evolving wavefunction is given by a series expression that can be expanded either in weak coupling or in strong coupling, converging to all orders in the steady-state limit in either case. The series agrees to leading order with known results in the well-studied regime of weak antiferromagnetic coupling and also reveals a universal regime of strong ferromagnetic coupling with Kondo temperature ${T}_{K}^{(F)}=D{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{3{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}}{8}\ensuremath{\rho}|J|}$ ($J<0, \ensuremath{\rho}|J|\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$). In this regime, the differential conductance $dI/dV$ reaches the unitarity limit $2{e}^{2}/h$ asymptotically at large voltage or temperature.

arXiv:1912.00281Physical review. B./Physical review. BMay 4, 20215 citations

Conductance of a dissipative quantum dot: Nonequilibrium crossover near a non-Fermi-liquid quantum critical point

Gu Zhang, E. Novais, Harold U. Baranger

We find the nonlinear conductance of a dissipative resonant level in the nonequilibrium steady state near its quantum critical point. The system consists of a spin-polarized quantum dot connected to two resistive leads that provide ohmic dissipation. We focus on the crossover from the strong-coupling, non-Fermi-liquid regime to the weak-coupling, Fermi-liquid ground state, a crossover driven by the instability of the quantum critical point to hybridization asymmetry or detuning of the level in the dot. We show that the crossover properties are given by tunneling through an effective single barrier described by the boundary sine-Gordon model. The nonlinear conductance is then obtained from thermodynamic Bethe ansatz results in the literature, which were developed to treat tunneling in a Luttinger liquid. The current-voltage characteristics are thus found for any value of the resistance of the leads. For the special case of lead resistance equal to the quantum resistance, we find mappings onto, first, the two-channel Kondo model and, second, an effectively noninteracting model from which the nonlinear conductance is found analytically. A key feature of the general crossover function is that the nonequilibrium crossover driven by applied bias is different from the crossover driven by temperature---we find that the nonequilibrium crossover is substantially sharper. Finally, we compare to experimental results for both the bias and temperature crossovers: the agreement is excellent.We find the nonlinear conductance of a dissipative resonant level in the nonequilibrium steady state near its quantum critical point. The system consists of a spin-polarized quantum dot connected to two resistive leads that provide ohmic dissipation. We focus on the crossover from the strong-coupling, non-Fermi-liquid regime to the weak-coupling, Fermi-liquid ground state, a crossover driven by the instability of the quantum critical point to hybridization asymmetry or detuning of the level in the dot. We show that the crossover properties are given by tunneling through an effective single barrier described by the boundary sine-Gordon model. The nonlinear conductance is then obtained from thermodynamic Bethe ansatz results in the literature, which were developed to treat tunneling in a Luttinger liquid. The current-voltage characteristics are thus found for any value of the resistance of the leads. For the special case of lead resistance equal to the quantum resistance, we find mappings onto, first, the two-channel Kondo model and, second, an effectively noninteracting model from which the nonlinear conductance is found analytically. A key feature of the general crossover function is that the nonequilibrium crossover driven by applied bias is different from the crossover driven by temperature---we find that the nonequilibrium crossover is substantially sharper. Finally, we compare to experimental results for both the bias and temperature crossovers: the agreement is excellent.

arXiv:2108.00064Physical review. B./Physical review. BOct 25, 20213 citations

t=0

. The method, which does not use Bethe ansatz, also works in other quantum impurity models and may be of wider applicability. We show that the long-time limit (with the system size taken to infinity first) of the time-evolving wavefunction of the Kondo model is a current-carrying nonequilibrium steady state that satisfies the Lippmann-Schwinger equation. We show that the electric current in the time-evolving wavefunction is given by a series expression that can be expanded either in weak coupling or in strong coupling, converging to all orders in the steady-state limit in either case. The series agrees to leading order with known results in the well-studied regime of weak antiferromagnetic coupling and also reveals a universal regime of strong ferromagnetic coupling with Kondo temperature ${T}_{K}^{(F)}=D{e}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{3{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}}{8}\ensuremath{\rho}|J|}$ ($J<0, \ensuremath{\rho}|J|\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$). In this regime, the differential conductance

dI/dV

reaches the unitarity limit

2{e}^{2}/h

asymptotically at large voltage or temperature.