Generalized Landauer formula for time-dependent potentials and noise-induced zero-bias dc current

Abstract

Using a new developed Single-Electron approach, we derive the Landauer-type formula for electron transport in arbitrary time-dependent potentials. This formula is applied for randomly fluctuating potentials represented by a dichotomic noise. We found that the noise can produce dc-current in quantum system under zero-bias voltage by breaking the time-reversal symmetry of the transmission coefficient. We show that this effect is due to decoherence, produced by the noise, which can take place in many different systems.