title: Scattering theory of current-induced forces in mesoscopic systems.
abstract: We develop a scattering theory of current-induced forces exerted by the conduction electrons of a general mesoscopic conductor on slow "mechanical" degrees of freedom. Our theory describes the current-induced forces both in and out of equilibrium in terms of the scattering matrix of the phase-coherent conductor. Under general nonequilibrium conditions, the resulting mechanical Langevin dynamics is subject to both nonconservative and velocity-dependent Lorentz-like forces, in addition to (possibly negative) friction. We illustrate our results with a two-mode model inspired by hydrogen molecules in a break junction which exhibits limit-cycle dynamics of the mechanical modes.
authors.affiliation: Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems and Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: Silvia Viola
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kusminskiy
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Oppen