Non-equilibrium transport through a model quantum dot: Hartree–Fock approximation and beyond

Abstract

The finite-temperature transport properties of the spinless interacting fermion model coupled to non-interacting leads are investigated. Employing the unrestricted time-dependent Hartree–Fock (HF) approximation, the transmission probability and the nonlinear I – V characteristics are calculated, and compared with available analytical results and with numerical data obtained from a Hubbard–Stratonovich decoupling of the interaction. In the weak interaction regime, the HF approximation reproduces the gross features of the exact I – V characteristics but fails to account for subtle properties like the particular power law for the reflected current in the interacting resonant level model.

Keywords

• quantum dot
• Hartree–Fock approximation
• conductance
• Hubbard–Stratonovich transformation