Transient thermoelectricity in a vibrating quantum dot in Kondo regime

We investigate the time evolution of the thermopower in a vibrating quantum dot suddenly shifted into the Kondo regime via a gate voltage by adopting the time-dependent non-crossing approximation and linear response Onsager relations. Behavior of the instantaneous thermopower is studied for a range of temperatures both in zero and strong electron–phonon coupling. We argue that inverse of the saturation value of decay time of thermopower to its steady state value might be an alternative tool in determination of the Kondo temperature and the value of the electron–phonon coupling strength.

► We adapt the non-crossing approximation and Onsager relations to time-dependent situations. ► We calculate the transient behavior of thermopower for a quantum dot in Kondo regime. ► The saturation temperature of the decay time of thermopower is the Kondo temperature. ► Inverse of the saturated decay time of thermopower is the Kondo temperature. ► We propose a method to determine the strength of electron–phonon coupling on the dot.