Current and noise in a model of an alternating current scanning tunneling microscope molecule-metal junction

R. Guyon (1, 2) , Thibaut Jonckheere (1, 2) , V. Mujica (3) , Adeline Crépieux (1, 2) , T. Martin (1, 2)

1 CPT - Centre de Physique Théorique - UMR 6207
2 CPT - Centre de Physique Théorique - UMR 7332
3 Escuela de Química

The transport properties of a simple model for a finite level structure (a molecule or a dot) connected to metal electrodes in an alternating current scanning tunneling microscope (ac-STM) configuration is studied. The finite level structure is assumed to have strong binding properties with the metallic substrate, and the bias between the STM tip and the hybrid metal-molecule interface has both an ac and a dc component. The finite frequency current response and the zero-frequency photoassisted shot noise are computed using the Keldysh technique, and examples for a single-site molecule (a quantum dot) and for a two-site molecule are examined. The model may be useful for the interpretation of recent experiments using an ac-STM for the study of both conducting and insulating surfaces, where the third harmonic component of the current is measured. The zero-frequency photoassisted shot noise serves as a useful diagnosis for analyzing the energy level structure of the molecule. The present work motivates the need for further analysis of current fluctuations in electronic molecular transport.

R. Guyon, Thibaut Jonckheere, V. Mujica, Adeline Crépieux, T. Martin. Current and noise in a model of an alternating current scanning tunneling microscope molecule-metal junction. Journal of Chemical Physics, 2005, 122, pp.144703. ⟨10.1063/1.1878593⟩. ⟨hal-00005082⟩