Phase space analysis of quantum transport in electronic nanodevices

Abstract

Electronic transport in nanodevices is commonly studied theoretically and numerically within the Landauer-Büttiker formalism: a device is characterized by its scattering properties to and from reservoirs connected by perfect semi-infinite leads, and transport quantities are derived from the scattering matrix. In some respects, however, the device becomes a ‘black box’ as one only analyses what goes in and out. Here we use the Husimi function as a complementary tool for quantitatively understanding transport in graphene nanodevices. It is a phase space representation of the scattering wavefunctions that allows to link the scattering matrix to a more semiclassical and intuitive description and gain additional insight in to the transport process. In this article we use the Husimi function to analyze some of the fascinating electronic transport properties of graphene, Klein tunneling and intervalley scattering, in two exemplary graphene nanodevices. By this we demonstrate the usefulness of the Husimi function in electronic nanodevices and present novel results e.g. on Klein tunneling outside the Dirac regime and intervalley scattering at a pn-junction and a tilted graphene edge.