A non-equilibrium quantum transport framework for spintronic devices with dynamical correlations

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Nell, Declan, Radonjic, Milos, Rungger, Ivan, Chioncel, Liviu, Sanvito, Stefano, Droghetti, Andrea
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Nell, Declan
Radonjic, Milos
Rungger, Ivan
Chioncel, Liviu
Sanvito, Stefano
Droghetti, Andrea
author_facet Nell, Declan
Radonjic, Milos
Rungger, Ivan
Chioncel, Liviu
Sanvito, Stefano
Droghetti, Andrea
contents Two-terminal spintronic devices remain challenging to model under realistic operating conditions, where the interplay of complex electronic structures, correlation effects and bias-driven non-equilibrium dynamics may significantly impact charge and spin transport. Existing {\it ab initio} methods either capture bias-dependent transport but neglect dynamical correlations or include correlations but are restricted to equilibrium or linear-response regimes. To overcome these limitations, we present a framework for steady-state quantum transport, combining density functional theory (DFT), the non-equilibrium Greens' function (NEGF) method, and dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). The framework is then applied to Cu/Co/vacuum/Cu and an Fe/MgO/Fe tunnel junction. In Co, correlations drive a transition from Fermi-liquid to non-Fermi-liquid behavior under finite bias, due to scattering of electrons with electron-hole pairs. In contrast, in the Fe/MgO/Fe junction, correlation effects are weaker: Fe remains close to equilibrium even at large biases. Nevertheless, inelastic scattering can still induce partly incoherent transport that modifies the device's response to the external bias. Overall, our framework provides a route to model spintronic devices beyond single-particle descriptions, while also suggesting new interpretations of experiments.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_18442
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A non-equilibrium quantum transport framework for spintronic devices with dynamical correlations
Nell, Declan
Radonjic, Milos
Rungger, Ivan
Chioncel, Liviu
Sanvito, Stefano
Droghetti, Andrea
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Two-terminal spintronic devices remain challenging to model under realistic operating conditions, where the interplay of complex electronic structures, correlation effects and bias-driven non-equilibrium dynamics may significantly impact charge and spin transport. Existing {\it ab initio} methods either capture bias-dependent transport but neglect dynamical correlations or include correlations but are restricted to equilibrium or linear-response regimes. To overcome these limitations, we present a framework for steady-state quantum transport, combining density functional theory (DFT), the non-equilibrium Greens' function (NEGF) method, and dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). The framework is then applied to Cu/Co/vacuum/Cu and an Fe/MgO/Fe tunnel junction. In Co, correlations drive a transition from Fermi-liquid to non-Fermi-liquid behavior under finite bias, due to scattering of electrons with electron-hole pairs. In contrast, in the Fe/MgO/Fe junction, correlation effects are weaker: Fe remains close to equilibrium even at large biases. Nevertheless, inelastic scattering can still induce partly incoherent transport that modifies the device's response to the external bias. Overall, our framework provides a route to model spintronic devices beyond single-particle descriptions, while also suggesting new interpretations of experiments.
title A non-equilibrium quantum transport framework for spintronic devices with dynamical correlations
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.18442