title: Quantum interference and decoherence in single-molecule junctions: how vibrations induce electrical current.
abstract: Quantum interference and decoherence in single-molecule junctions is analyzed employing a nonequilibrium Green's function approach. Electrons tunneling through quasidegenerate states of a molecular junction exhibit interference effects. We show that electronic-vibrational coupling, inherent to any molecular junction, strongly quenches such interference effects. This decoherence mechanism may cause significantly larger electrical currents and is particularly pronounced if the junction is vibrationally highly excited, e.g., due to inelastic processes in the resonant transport regime.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Molekulare Materialien, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 7/B2, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Härtle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butzin
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rubio-Pons
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thoss