Driven-dissipative electron transport in a quantized conducting array*

Nanojunction experiments with single molecules or quantum dots placed between  macroscopic leads allow the exploration of quantum transport at the nanoscale [1]. We study driven-dissipative electron transport in a quantized conducting array of coupled two-level electron sites with a Markovian quantum master equation approach [2] that includes Coulomb interactions, electron tunneling, radiative recombination and non-radiative thermal relaxation [2]. Using literature data [3], we reproduce experimental negative conductance results for a thynylene AH molecular junction at 6 K. By driving a conducting array with resonant incoherent light, photon-induced currents are produced at zero bias voltage, whose current direction depends on the degree of delocalization of  the array electrons. Conditions for current-induced light generation are also discussed.