Full-counting statistics of charge and spin transport in the transient regime: A nonequilibrium Green's function approach

Abstract: We report the investigation of full-counting statistics (FCS) of transferred charge and spin in the transient regime where the connection between central scattering region (quantum dot) and leads are turned on at $t=0$. A general theoretical formulation for the generating function (GF) is presented using a nonequilibrium Green's function approach for the quantum dot system. In particular, we give a detailed derivation on how to use the method of path integral together with nonequilibrium Green's function technique to obtain the GF of FCS in electron transport systems based on the two-time quantum measurement scheme. The correct long-time limit of the formalism, the Levitov-Lesovik's formula, is obtained. This formalism can be generalized to account for spin transport for the system with noncollinear spin as well as spin-orbit interaction. As an example, we have calculated the GF of spin-polarized transferred charge, transferred spin, as well as the spin transferred torque for a magnetic tunneling junction in the transient regime. The GF is compactly expressed by a functional determinant represented by Green's function and self-energy in the time domain. With this formalism, FCS in spintronics in the transient regime can be studied. We also extend this formalism to the quantum point contact system. For numerical results, we calculate the GF and various cumulants of a double quantum dot system connected by two leads in transient regime. The signature of universal oscillation of FCS is identified. On top of the global oscillation, local oscillations are found in various cumulants as a result of the Rabi oscillation. Finally, the influence of the temperature is also examined.