Quantum diffusion due to scattering non-locality in nanoscale semiconductors

Abstract

In view of its local character, the semiclassical or Boltzmann theory is intrinsically unable to describe transport phenomena on ultrashort space and time scales, and to this purpose genuine quantum-transport approaches are imperative. By employing a density-matrix simulation strategy recently proposed, we shall demonstrate its power and flexibility in describing quantum-diffusion phenomena in nanoscale semiconductors. In particular, as for the case of carrier-carrier relaxation in photoexcited semiconductors, our analysis will show the failure of simplified dephasing models in describing phonon-induced scattering non-locality, pointing out that such limitation is particularly severe for the case of quasielastic dissipation processes.