Steady-state currents through nanodevices: a scattering-states numerical renormalization-group approach to open quantum systems

We propose a numerical renormalization group (NRG) approach to steady-state currents through nanodevices. A discretization of the scattering-states continuum ensures the correct boundary condition for an open quantum system. We introduce two degenerate Wilson chains for current carrying left- and right-moving electrons reflecting time-reversal symmetry in the absence of a finite bias V. We employ the time-dependent NRG to evolve the known steady-state density operator for a noninteracting junction into the density operator of the fully interacting nanodevice at finite bias. We calculate the differential conductance as function of V, T, and the external magnetic field.