Stochastic Path Integral Formulation of Full Counting Statistics

Abstract

We derive a stochastic path integral representation of counting statistics in semi-classical systems. The formalism is introduced on the simple case of a single chaotic cavity with two quantum point contacts, and then further generalized to find the propagator for charge distributions with an arbitrary number of counting fields and generalized charges. The counting statistics is given by the saddle point approximation to the path integral, and fluctuations around the saddle point are suppressed in the semi-classical approximation. We use this approach to derive the current cumulants of a chaotic cavity in the hot-electron regime.