Memory effect in a molecular quantum dot with strong electron-vibron interaction

Polaron theory of tunneling through a molecular quantum dot (MQD) with strong electron-vibron interactions and attractive electron-electron correlations is developed. The dot is modeled as a d-fold-degenerate energy level weakly coupled to the leads. The effective attractive interaction between polarons in the dot results in a “switching” phenomenon in the current-voltage characteristics when d>2, in agreement with the results for the phenomenological negative-U model. The degenerate MQD with strong electron-vibron coupling has two stable current states in a certain interval of the bias voltage below some critical temperature.