title: Quantum shuttle in phase space.
abstract: We present a quantum theory of the shuttle instability in electronic transport through a nanostructure with a mechanical degree of freedom. A phase space formulation in terms of the Wigner function allows us to identify a crossover from the tunneling to the shuttling regime, thus extending the previously found classical results to the quantum domain. Further, a new dynamical regime is discovered, where the shuttling is driven exclusively by the quantum noise.
authors.affiliation: Mikroelektronik Centret, Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds Plads, Building 345 east, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. tno@mic.dtu.dk
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Novotný
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donarini
authors.forename: Antti-Pekka
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jauho