We investigate a particular phase transition between two different tunneling regimes, direct and injection (Fowler-Nordheim), experimentally observed in the current-voltage characteristics of the light receptor bacteriorhodopsin (bR). Here, the sharp increase of the current above about 3 V is theoretically interpreted as the cross-over between the direct and injection sequential-tunneling regimes. Theory also predicts a very special behaviour for the associated current fluctuations around steady state. We find the remarkable result that in a large range of bias around the transition between the two tunneling regimes, the probability density functions can be traced back to the generalization of the Gumbel distribution. This non-Gaussian distribution is the universal standard to describe fluctuations under extreme conditions.

Gumbel distribution and current fluctuations in critical systems

ALFINITO, ELEONORA;MILLITHALER, JEAN FRANCOIS ANTOINE PHILIPPE;REGGIANI, Lino
2012-01-01

Abstract

We investigate a particular phase transition between two different tunneling regimes, direct and injection (Fowler-Nordheim), experimentally observed in the current-voltage characteristics of the light receptor bacteriorhodopsin (bR). Here, the sharp increase of the current above about 3 V is theoretically interpreted as the cross-over between the direct and injection sequential-tunneling regimes. Theory also predicts a very special behaviour for the associated current fluctuations around steady state. We find the remarkable result that in a large range of bias around the transition between the two tunneling regimes, the probability density functions can be traced back to the generalization of the Gumbel distribution. This non-Gaussian distribution is the universal standard to describe fluctuations under extreme conditions.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11587/371491
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