Abstract
A novel formalism for treating Bloch electron dynamics and quantum transport in inhomogeneous electric fields of arbitrary strength and time dependence is reviewed. In this formalism, the electric field is described through the use of the vector potential. This choice of gauge leads to a natural set of basis functions for describing Bloch electron dynamics; in addition, a basis set of localized, electric field-dependent Wannier functions is established and utilized to derive a quantum “Boltzmann equation” which includes explicit band-mixing transients such as effective mass dressing and Zener tunneling. The application of this formalism to quantum transport and Bloch oscillations in homogeneous electric fields is emphasized; also, issues relevant to applications concerning spatially localized inhomogeneous electric fields such as occur in problems involving tunneling through “band-enginereed” tunneling barriers and impurity scattering is discussed.
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© 1990 Plenum Press, New York
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Iafrate, G.J., Krieger, J.B., Li, Y. (1990). Quantum Transport and Dynamics for Bloch Electrons in Electric Fields. In: Chamberlain, J.M., Eaves, L., Portal, JC. (eds) Electronic Properties of Multilayers and Low-Dimensional Semiconductor Structures. NATO ASI Series, vol 231. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7412-1_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7412-1_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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