Formulation of a phase space exponential operator for the Wigner transport equation accounting for the spatial variation of the effective mass

Abstract

A novel numerical approximation technique for the Wigner transport equation including the spatial variation of the effective mass based on the formulation of an exponential operator within the phase space is derived. In addition, a different perspective for the discretization of the phase space is provided, which finally allows flexible discretization patterns. The formalism is presented by means of a simply structured resonant tunneling diode in the stationary and transient regime utilizing a conduction band Hamilton operator. In order to account for quantum effects within heterostructure devices adequately, the corresponding spatial variation of the effective mass is considered explicitly, which is mostly disregarded in conventional methods. The results are validated by a comparison with the results obtained from the nonequilibrium Green’s function approach within the stationary regime assuming the flatband case. Additionally, the proposed approach is utilized to perform a transient analysis of the resonant tunneling diode including the self-consistent Hartree–Fock potential.