Quantum Dot Research: Current State and Future Prospects

This article reviews the current state of research involving semiconductor quantum dots, provides a brief review of the theory behind their unique properties, and an introduction explaining the importance of quantum dot research. The characteristic shifting of the band gap energy with quantum dot size, as predicted from the density of states for low-dimensional structures, allows experimental measurements to determine the extent to which quantum confinement effects play a role in the resulting properties. A few of the current techniques used to measure the presence and physical characteristics of quantum dots and their energy levels is reviewed, including transmission electron microscopy, optical transmission, and Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Finally, some of the more exciting applications for quantum dots currently being researched for use in the field of optoelectronics are reviewed, including quantum dot infrared photodetectors, quantum dot lasers, and quantum dot solar cells. Comments are made on the current progress and the future prospects of quantum dot research and device applications.     

抛物形量子点中弱耦合极化子的性质

采用线性组合算符和幺正变换方法研究了抛物形量子点中弱耦合极化子的基态能量和束缚能。计算结果表明,基态能量和束缚能随有效束缚强度增加而减小。随着有效束缚强度逐渐加大,最后逐渐趋于体结构极化子的基态能量。当有效束缚强度给定,基态能随电子-体纵光学声子耦合强度增加而减小。由于有效束缚强度与量子点受限强度平方根成反比,所以量子点受限越强,基态能和束缚能越大,电子-体纵光学声子耦合强度的变化对量子点的影响越小。当量子点受限变弱时,电子-体纵光学声子耦合强度变化对量子点的影响变大。所以在量子点弱受限区域,极化子对量子点的影响不容忽略。     

基于应变锗空穴双量子点的可调耦合和自旋阻塞研究

应变锗空穴量子点是实现超大规模量子计算最有前景的平台之一.由于锗空穴不受超精细相互作影响，有着较长的自旋弛豫时间和量子退相干时间，且锗中本征的强旋轨道耦合和空穴载流子的低有效质量，使得全电场操控空穴自旋量子比特得以实现，极大地降低了器件加工难度，增加了量子点的可扩展性.本文介绍了一种使用应变锗异质结制备重叠栅空穴双量子点器件的方法，完成了应变锗异质结性质测量，空穴双量子点器件制作，单量子点输运性质和双量子点输运性质研究，双量子点耦合可研究调节性研究，以及外磁场存在下的漏电流性质研究和泡利自旋阻塞解除机制的研究.这些工作为未来实现高质量自旋量子比特制备和高保真度量子逻辑门操控提供了实验平台和基本参数.     

Quantum Phase Transition and Ferromagnetic Spin Correlation in Parallel Double Quantum Dots

We investigate electronic transport through a parallel double quantum dot （DQD） system with strong on-site Coulomb interaction, as well as the interdot tunnelling. By applying numerical renormalization group method, the ground state of the system and the transmission probability at zero temperature are obtained. For a system of quantum dots with degenerate energy levels and small interdot tunnel coupling, the spin correlations between the DQDs is ferromagnetic, and the ground state of the system is a spin-1 triplet state. The linear conductance will reach the unitary limit （2e^2/h） due to the Kondo effect at low temperature. As the interdot tunnel coupling increases, there is a quantum phase transition from ferromagnetic to anti-ferromagnetic spin correlation in DQDs and the linear conductance is strongly suppressed.     

非对称量子点中弱耦合极化子的相互作用能

采用改进的线性组合算符和幺正变换方法,研究非对称量子点中弱耦合极化子的性质.导出了非对称量子点中弱耦合极化子的振动频率和相互作用能随量子点的横向和纵向有效受限长度和电子-声子耦合强度的变化关系.数值计算结果表明:非对称量子点中弱耦合极化子的振动频率和相互作用能随量子点的横向和纵向有效受限长度的减小而迅速增大,表现出奇特的量子尺寸效应.     

半导体量子点中弱耦合激子的性质

研究了抛物型半导体量子点中弱耦合激子的性质,在有效质量近似下,采用线性组合算符和幺正变换的方法,导出了抛物型半导体量子点中激子的基态能量。讨论了量子点半径和受限强度对半导体量子点中弱耦合激子的基态能量的影响。以GaAs半导体为例进行了数值计算,结果表明:在弱耦合情况下,重空穴激子和轻空穴激子的基态能量随量子点半径的减小而增大,随受限强度ω₀的增强而增大。     

嵌入并联耦合双量子点介观环系统中的近藤效应

使用双杂质Anderson模型的哈密顿，从理论上研究了一个嵌入并联耦合双量子点介观环系统 , 当处在Kondo区时的基态性质, 并用slave-boson平均场方法求解了哈密顿.研究的结果表 明， 在这个系统中，当两个量子点处于强耦合时，两个量子点可以相干耦合成一个人造分 子，导致一个增强的Kondo效应和超强持续电流的出现.因此，在未来的纳米装置应用中，这 个系统具有潜在的应用价值. 关键词： 并联耦合双量子点 Kondo效应 超强持续电流     

Current control in periodically driven quantum dots using nonadiabatic double crossing

The purpose of this Letter is to propose a method for controlling electron currents on quantum dots driven by an oscillating electric field. The effects of nonadiabatic transition on time-averaged currents are theoretically studied in dot systems where energy levels exhibit a double crossing within one period of the driving field. The current is enhanced or suppressed as a result of the constructive or destructive interference between different transition paths at a double crossing. The current also depends on the number of dots because of the presence of dot-lead coupling.     

磁场对非对称量子点中极化子性质的影响

采用线性组合算符和幺正变换方法研究磁场对非对称量子点中弱耦合磁极化子性质的影响.导出了非对称量子点中弱耦合磁极化子的振动频率、基态能量和基态结合能随量子点的横向和纵向有效受限长度、磁场和电子-声子耦合强度的变化关系.数值计算结果表明:非对称量子点中弱耦合磁极化子的基态能量和基态结合能随量子点的横向和纵向有效受限长度的增加而迅速增大.随回旋频率的增加而增大,随电子-声子耦合强度的增加而减小.     

量子点中弱耦合束缚极化子的内部激发态性质

采用线性组合算符和幺正变换方法研究库仑束缚势对量子点中弱耦合束缚极化子激发态性质的影响。计算了束缚极化子的振动频率、第一内部激发态能量、激发能量和共振频率随量子点的有效受限长度,电子-声子耦合强度和库仑束缚势的变化关系。结果表明:量子点中弱耦合束缚极化子的振动频率、第一内部激发态能量、激发能量和共振频率随量子点的有效受限长度的减少而迅速增大,随库仑束缚势的增加而增大。     

Quantum dot in the Kondo regime coupled to superconductors

The Kondo effect and superconductivity are both prime examples of many-body phenomena. Here we report transport measurements on a carbon nanotube quantum dot coupled to superconducting leads that show a delicate interplay between both effects. We demonstrate that the superconductivity of the leads does not destroy the Kondo correlations on the quantum dot when the Kondo temperature, which varies for different single-electron states, exceeds the superconducting gap energy.     

抛物量子点中强耦合束缚磁极化子的性质

采用Pekar类型的变分方法研究了抛物量子点中强耦合束缚磁极化子的基态和激发态的性质.计算了束缚磁极化子的基态和激发态的能量、光学声子平均数以及束缚磁极化子的共振频率.讨论了这些量对回旋频率和有效束缚强度以及库仑束缚势的依赖关系.数值计算结果表明:量子点中强耦合束缚磁极化子的基态能量和共振频率以及光学声子平均数均随量子点的有效束缚强度的增加而减小,基态能量随库仑束缚势的增加而减小,随回旋频率的增加而增大.     

磁场对非对称量子点中束缚磁极化子性质的影响

采用线性组合算符和幺正变换方法研究磁场对非对称量子点中弱耦合束缚磁极化子性质的影响。导出量子点中弱耦合束缚磁极化子振动频率和基态能量随量子点的横向和纵向有效受限长度、库仑束缚势、磁场的回旋共振频率和电子-声子耦合强度的变化关系。数值计算结果表明:非对称量子点中弱耦合束缚磁极化子的振动频率和基态能量随量子点的横向和纵向有效受限长度的减小而迅速增大。振动频率随库仑束缚势和磁场的回旋共振频率的增加而增大。基态能量随库仑束缚势和电子-声子耦合强度的增加而减小。     

抛物量子点中强耦合磁极化子的性质

采用Pekar类型的变分方法研究了抛物量子点中强耦合磁极化子的基态和激发态的性质。计算了基态和激发态磁极化子的束缚能以及磁极化子的共振频率。讨论了这些量对回旋频率和有效限制强度的依赖关系,以及磁极化子光学声子平均数的性质,结果表明:由于Zeeman劈裂,抛物量子点中磁极化子的回旋共振频率劈裂为两支。基态和激发态磁极化子的束缚能以及磁极化子的共振频率都随回旋频率的增加而增大,随量子点的有效束缚强度的增大而减小。     

Kondo-Fano Effect in T-shaped Double Quantum Dots Coupled to Ferromagnetic Leads

Using an equation-of-motion technique,we theoretically study the Kondo-Fano effect in the T-shaped double quantum dots coupled to two ferromagnetic leads by the Anderson Hamiltonian.We calculate the density of states in this system by solving Green function.Our results reveal that the density of states show some noticeable characteristics not only depending upon the interdot coupling t ab,the energy level ε d1 of the side coupled quantum dot QD b,and the relative angle θ of magnetic moment M,but also the asymmetry parameter α in ferromagnetic leads and so on.All these parameters greatly influence the density of states of the central quantum dot QD a.This system is a possible candidate for spin valve transistors and may have potential applications in the spintronics.     

柱型量子点中极化子的重整化质量

应用线性组合算符方法和幺正变换方法,研究在量子阱和抛物势作用下的柱型量子点中极化子的重整化质量.结果表明,量子点中极化子的重整化质量随量子点高度的增加而减小;随耦合强度的增加而增加,这是由于电子与晶格振动之间的相互作用增强所致.而基态能量与量子点的尺度、特征频率、耦合强度、磁场等均有关,当极化子运动速度不变时,基态能量随量子点柱高的增加而减小;随特征频率和磁场强度的增加而增加.     

Quantum phase diagram of granular superconducting quantum dots array

We study the quantum phase diagram of granular superconducting quantum dots (GSQD) array. We implement the physics of granularity by considering site dependent Josephson couplings, on-site charging energies and the intersite interactions. We predict dimer density wave and staggered phases at the insulating state for higher order commensurability. Several parts of the quantum phase diagram of GSQD are in contrast with the clean superconducting quantum dots array. We also obtain the superconducting phase of GSQD. We develop the theory for weak tunneling conductance and the Coulomb energy is smaller than the superconducting gap.     

库仑场对抛物量子点中强耦合极化子性质的影响

采用线性组合算符和幺正变换方法研究了在库仑场束缚下抛物量子点中强耦合束缚极化子的振动频率和基态能量。并对其进行了数值计算,结果表明:强耦合束缚极化子的振动频率和基态能量随量子点的有效受限长度的增加而减小,随电子-LO声子耦合强度的增加而增加,束缚极化子的基态能量随库仑势的增加而减小。     

混合量子点QLED结构性能研究

为研究基于混合量子点的QLED结构与性能,利用红光量子点以及绿光量子点两种材料制备了橙光QLED器件,并对其性能进行了表征。实验制备的器件结构为ITO/PEDOT∶PSS/poly-TPD/混合QDs/Zn O/Al,其中发光层采用了3种混合量子点的混合结构方案。方案一先旋涂红光量子点层,后旋涂绿光量子点层;方案二先旋涂绿光量子点层,后旋涂红光量子点层;方案三将红光、绿光量子点1∶1混合后制备为发光层。实验结果表明:方案一制备的器件电流密度最大,发光亮度最低,且只有红光谱;方案二制备的器件具有最小的电流密度,同时具有红、绿光谱,在8 V电压下,电流效率约为4.69 cd/A;方案三制备的器件同时具有红、绿光谱,电流密度与发光特性介于方案一与方案二之间。实测数据与理论分析是一致的,方案二制备的器件存在双能量陷阱,能够将注入的空穴以及电子同时限制在红光量子点层内。通过调节各功能层厚度使得载流子注入平衡,可进一步增大发光电流,提高器件效率。     

Thermoelectric transport in the three terminal quantum dot

The thermoelectric transport in the system composed of a quantum dot in contact with superconducting, ferromagnetic and normal metal electrodes has been studied. Such a system can support pure spin current in the normal electrode. In the limit of a large superconducting gap and weak coupling between the dot and the electrodes we investigate the sub-gap charge and spin transport via Andreev mechanism using the standard master equation technique, which is known to be valid in the sequential tunnelling regime. The Zeeman splitting of the dot level induces pure spin current in the ferromagnetic electrode under an appropriate bias. This opens a novel possibility to switch the spin current between two electrodes by electric means. The calculated spin and charge thermopower coefficients attain very large values, of the order of a few hundreds μV K(-1), and show similar dependences on the position of the on-dot energy level and temperature.