Exact nonequilibrium transport through point contacts in quantum wires and fractional quantum Hall devices

Abstract

We have recently calculated exact nonequilibrium quantum transport properties through a point contact in a Luttinger liquid. Using a particular quasiparticle basis of the Hilbert space dictated by integrability, we here compute explicitly the exact I(V) characteristic and conductance out of equilibrium as a function of driving voltage V and temperature T. These are described by universal scaling functions of two variables, the scaled point-contact interaction strength, and V/T. The differential-conductance curve as a function of the interaction strength broadens significantly as V/T is increased, and develops a pronounced maximum at a (universal) critical value (eV/${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}$T)=7.188 68. . .. In addition, we derive an exact duality between strong and weak backscattering. The theory presented here has recently been realized experimentally in resonant tunneling-transport experiments between edge states in fractional quantum Hall effect devices. In this context the exact duality is between electron tunneling and Laughlin-quasiparticle tunneling.