Transport signature of pseudo Jahn-Teller dynamics in a single-molecule transistor

F. Reckermann, M. Leijnse, M. R. Wegewijs, H. Schoeller
2008 Europhysics letters  
We calculate the electronic transport through a molecular dimer, in which an excess electron is delocalized over equivalent monomers, which can be locally distorted. In this system the Born-Oppenheimer approximation breaks down resulting in quantum entanglement of the mechanical and electronic motion. We show that pseudo Jahn-Teller (pJT) dynamics of the molecule gives rise to conductance peaks that indicate this violation. Their magnitude, sign and position sharply depend on the
more » ... cal properties of the molecule, which can be varied in recently developed three-terminal junctions with mechanical control. The predicted effect depends crucially on the degree of intramolecular delocalization of the excess electron, a parameter which is also of fundamental importance in physical chemistry.
doi:10.1209/0295-5075/83/58001 fatcat:agdlda46n5finmdet4wstex6xe