Phonon effects in molecular conduction junctions

This talk will give an overview of our work on effects of electron-phonon coupling on molecular conduction, including dephasing, dissipation and heating, then describe some recent observations, interpretations and predictions on three phenomena involving phonons in molecular junctions: (a) Heat conduction and its rectification by molecular wires$^{1,2}$; (b) inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy$^{3-5}$ and (c) phonon-induced multi-stability, hysteresis and negative differential resistance in molecular conduction.$^{6}$ $^{1}$ D. Segal, A. Nitzan and P. H\"{a}nggi, J. Chem. Phys.\textbf{ 119, }6840-6855 (2003) $^{2}$ D. Segal and A. Nitzan, cond-mat/0405472 $^{3 }$M. Galperin, M. Ratner and A. Nitzan, J. Chem. Phys. \textbf{121}, 11965-11979 (2004) $^{4}$ M. Galperin, M. Ratner and A. Nitzan, Nano Lett., \textbf{4}, 1605-1611 (2004) $^{5}$ M. Galperin, A. Nitzan, M. A. Ratner and D. R. Stewart, to be published http://atto.tau.ac.il/$\sim $nitzan/253.pdf $^{6}$ M. Galperin, M. A.Ratner and A. Nitzan, Nano Letters, in press http://atto.tau.ac.il/$\sim $nitzan/254.pdf