Abstract
We propose a new approach to coherent control of transport via molecular junctions, which bypasses several of the hurdles to experimental realization of optically manipulated nanoelectronics noted in the previous literature. The method is based on the application of intrinsic semiconductor contacts and optical frequencies below the semiconductor bandgap. To explore the coherently controlled electronic dynamics, we introduce a density matrix formalism that accounts for both the discrete molecular state and the semiconductor quasicontinua within a single master equation and offers analytically soluble limits for a single and two-site molecular bridge. Our analytical theory predicts a new phenomenon, referred to as coherent destruction of induced tunnelling, which extends the phenomenon of coherent destruction of tunnelling frequently discussed in the previous literature. Our results illustrate the potential of semiconductor contacts in coherent control of photocurrent.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Chemical Physics Letters |
| Volume | 576 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 28 2013 |
Funding
B.D.F. gratefully acknowledges support by the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (Grant No. 2008282 ) and the Northwestern-Tel Aviv University Exchange Program for support of a visit to Northwestern University, in the framework of which this research was carried out. T.S. is grateful to the National Science Foundation (Grant No. CHE-1012207 ) and the US Department of Energy (Grant No. DE-FG02–09ER16109 ) for support.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry