Inelastic transport through double quantum dot systems

Inelastic transport through double quantum dot systems with coupling between electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom is examined by means of a master equation approach. The current and the conductance are analyzed for both weak and strong interdot couplings. The results show that an asymmetry in the current-voltage characteristic and appearance of negative differential conductance due to electron-phonon interaction. The influence of temperature on the current is studied and found that increasing temperature gives rise to eliminating the current blockade and, thus, removing the Coulomb diamonds in the conductance spectra.     

Spectroscopy of molecular states in a few-electron double quantum dot

Semiconductor quantum dots, so-called artificial atoms, have attracted considerable interest as mesoscopic model systems and prospective building blocks of the “quantum computer”. Electrons are trapped locally in quantum dots, forming controllable and coherent mesoscopic atom- and moleculelike systems. Electrostatic definition of quantum dots by use of top gates on a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure allows wide variation of the potential in the underlying two-dimensional electron gas. By distorting the trapping potential of a single quantum dot, a strongly tunnel-coupled double quantum dot can be defined. Transport spectroscopy measurements on such a system charged with N=0,1,2,… electrons are presented. In particular, the tunnel splitting of the double well potential for up to one trapped electron is unambiguously identified. It becomes visible as a pronounced level anticrossing at finite source drain voltage. A magnetic field perpendicular to the two-dimensional electron gas also modulates the orbital excitation energies in each individual dot. By tuning the asymmetry of the double well potential at finite magnetic field the chemical potentials of an excited state of one of the quantum dots and the ground state of the other quantum dot can be aligned, resulting in a second level anticrossing with a larger tunnel splitting. In addition, data on the two-electron transport spectrum are presented.     

Inelastic tunneling of electrons through a quantum dot with an embedded single molecular magnet

We report a theoretical analysis of electron transport through a quantum dot with an embedded biaxial single-molecule magnet (SMM) based on mapping of the many-body interaction-system onto a one-body problem by means of the non-equilibrium Green function technique. It is found that the conducting current exhibits a stepwise behavior and the nonlinear differential conductance displays additional peaks with variation of the sweeping speed and the magnitude of magnetic field. This observation can be interpreted by the interaction of electron-spin with the SMM and the quantum tunneling of magnetization. The inelastic conductance and the corresponding tunneling processes are investigated with normal as well as ferromagnetic electrodes. In the case of ferromagnetic configuration, the coupling to the SMM leads to an asymmetric tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), which can be enhanced or suppressed greatly in certain regions. Moreover, a sudden TMR-switch with the variation of magnetic field is observed, which is seen to be caused by the inelastic tunneling.     

Shot noise in electron transport through a double quantum dot: a master equation approach

We study shot noise in tunneling current through a double quantum dot connected to two electric leads.We derive two master equations in the occupation-state basis and the eigenstate basis to describe the electron dynamics.The approach based on the occupation-state basis,despite being widely used in many previous studies,is valid only when the interdot coupling strength is much smaller than the energy difference between the two dots.In contrast,the calculations using the eigenstate basis are valid for an arbitrary interdot coupling.Using realistic model parameters,we demonstrate that the predicted currents and shot-noise properties from the two approaches are significantly different when the interdot coupling is not small.Furthermore,properties of the shot noise predicted using the eigenstate basis successfully reproduce qualitative features found in a recent experiment.     

Spin current in double quantum dot

We have studied the dynamical behaviours of two electrons confined in a double quantum dot driven by rotating magnetic fields in terms of the theory of Lewis－Riesenfeld Hermitian invariants for the explicitly time-dependent Hamiltonian. The coherent spin oscillations in the dot provide a generation source for spin current. Exact solutions obtained allow us to investigate the dynamical properties of the spin localization for various initial localized states.     

Thermoelectric effects through weakly coupled double quantum dots

The electrical conductance, the thermal conductance, the thermopower and the thermoelectrical figure of merit are analyzed through a double quantum dot system weakly coupled to metal electrodes, by means of density matrix approach. The effects of interdot tunneling, intra- and interdot Coulomb repulsions on the figure of merit are examined. Results show that increase of interdot tunneling gives rise to a reduction in figure of merit. On the other hand, increase of Coulomb repulsion results in enhancement of figure of merit because of reduce of bipolar effect.     

Entanglement of two interacting electrons in a driven double quantum dot structure

We study the case where two interacting electrons in a double quantum dot structure are driven resonantly by a pulsed electromagnetic field and present a method that is based on controlled rotation for the creation of maximally entangled two-electron states.     

Multi-color tunneling quantum dot infrared photodetectors operating at room temperature

Quantum dot structures designed for multi-color infrared detection and high temperature (or room temperature) operation are demonstrated. A novel approach, tunneling quantum dot (T-QD), was successfully demonstrated with a detector that can be operated at room temperature due to the reduction of the dark current by blocking barriers incorporated into the structure. Photoexcited carriers are selectively collected from InGaAs quantum dots by resonant tunneling, while the dark current is blocked by AlGaAs/InGaAs tunneling barriers placed in the structure. A two-color tunneling-quantum dot infrared photodetector (T-QDIP) with photoresponse peaks at 6 μm and 17 μm operating at room temperature will be discussed. Furthermore, the idea can be used to develop terahertz T-QD detectors operating at high temperatures. Successful results obtained for a T-QDIP designed for THz operations are presented. Another approach, bi-layer quantum dot, uses two layers of InAs quantum dots (QDs) with different sizes separated by a thin GaAs layer. The detector response was observed at three distinct wavelengths in short-, mid-, and far-infrared regions (5.6, 8.0, and 23.0 μm). Based on theoretical calculations, photoluminescence and infrared spectral measurements, the 5.6 and 23.0 μm peaks are connected to the states in smaller QDs in the structure. The narrow peaks emphasize the uniform size distribution of QDs grown by molecular beam epitaxy. These detectors can be employed in numerous applications such as environmental monitoring, spectroscopy, medical diagnosis, battlefield-imaging, space astronomy applications, mine detection, and remote-sensing.     

Quantum control of two interacting electrons in a coupled quantum dot

Quantum-state engineering, i.e. active manipulation over the coherent dynamics of suitable quantum-mechanical systems, has become a fascinating prospect of modern physics. Here we discuss the dynamics of two interacting electrons in a coupled quantum dot driven by an external electric field. The results show that the two quantum dots can be used to prepare a maximally entangled Bell state by changing the strength and duration of an oscillatory electric field. Different from the suggestion made by Loss \textit et al (1998 Phys. Rev. A 57 120, the present entanglement involves the spatial degree of freedom for the two electrons. We also find that the coherent tunnelling suppression discussed by Grossmann \textit et al (1991 Phys. Rev. Lett. 67 516 persists in the two-particle case: i.e. two electrons initially localized in one dot can remain dynamically localized, although the strong Coulomb repulsion prevents them from behaving so. Surprisingly, the interaction enhances the degree of localization to a large extent compared with that in the non-interacting case. This phenomenon is referred to as the Coulomb-enhanced dynamical localization.     

Fabrication of quantum dot transistors incorporating a single self-assembled quantum dot

We report on the fabrication and the characterization of quantum dot transistors incorporating a single self-assembled quantum dot. The current–voltage characteristics exhibit clear staircase structures at room temperature. They are attributed to electron tunneling through the quantized energy levels of a single quantum dot.     

A method for continuous monitoring of quantum tunneling in a molecular double dot

An application of impedance measurement technique (IMT) for a detection of quantum tunneling in molecular structures is investigated. A charged particle which tunnels in a two-well potential is electrically coupled to a high-quality superconducting LC-circuit (tank) that makes possible a measurement of the electric susceptibility of the molecule at the resonant frequency of the tank. The real part of this susceptibility bears information about the tunneling rate through a measurable parameter—a phase angle between the tank voltage and a bias current applied to the tank. It is shown that the present approach is highly sensitive and allows the monitoring of the tunnel motion of charged nuclei in a single molecule.     

Photon-assisted Shot noise of the double quantum dot interferometer in weak Kondo regime

The shot noise of a parallel double quantum dot (DQD) system under the perturbation of microwave fields is investigated in the weak Kondo regime. Peak-valley structures exhibit in the differential conductance and shot noise, and side resonant peaks emerge around the Kondo peak due to the absorption and emission of photons. The shot noise is sensitively dependent on the adjusting approach through changing the gate voltages. Large resonant Fano factor accompanying photon-induced side peaks appear by simultaneously varying the two gate voltages. The photon suppression and enhancement of shot noise have been evaluated corresponding to the coherent and incoherent current correlation. The destructive interference causes the suppression of shot noise by changing the Aharonov–Bohm phase.     

Using a quantum dot system to realize perfect state transfer

There are some disadvantages to Nikolopoulos et al.'s protocol [Nikolopoulos G M, Petrosyan D and Lambropoulos P 2004 Europhys. Lett. 65 297] where a quantum dot system is used to realize quantum communication. To overcome these disadvantages, we propose a protocol that uses a quantum dot array to construct a four-qubit spin chain to realize perfect quantum state transfer (PQST). First, we calculate the interaction relation for PQST in the spin chain. Second, we review the interaction between the quantum dots in the Heitler-London approach. Third, we present a detailed program for designing the proper parameters of a quantum dot array to realize PQST.     

Bound polaron in quantum dot quantum well structures

The problem of bound polarons in quantum dot quantum well (QDQW) structures is studied theoretically. The eigenfrequencies of bulk longitudinal optical (LO) and surface optical (SO) modes are derived in the framework of the dielectric continuum approximation. The electron--phonon interaction Hamiltonian for QDQW structures is obtained and the exchange interaction between impurity and LO-phonons is discussed. The binding energy and the trapping energy of the bound polaron in CdS/HgS QDQW structures are calculated. The numerical results reveal that there exist three branches of eigenfrequencies of surface optical vibration in the CdS/HgS QDQW structure. It is also shown that the binding energy and the trapping energy increase as the inner radius of the QDQW structure decreases, with the outer radius fixed, and the trapping energy takes a major part of the binding energy when the inner radius is very small.     

Multiexciton transients in a single quantum dot

The relaxation dynamics of a multiple exciton complex (multiexciton) confined in a semiconductor quantum dot has been investigated. Emission signals from a single self-organized GaAs/Al_0.3Ga_0.7As quantum dot are temporally resolved with picosecond time resolution. The emission spectra consisting of the multiexciton structures are observed to depend on the delay time and the excitation intensity. Quantitative agreement is found between the experimental data and the calculation based on a model describing the successive relaxation of multiexcitons.     

Zero temperature conductance of parallel T-shape double quantum dots

We analyze the zero temperature conductance of a parallel T-shaped double quantum dot system. We present an analytical expression for the conductance of the system in terms of the total number of electrons in both quantum dots. Our results confirm that the system's conductance is strongly influenced by the dot which is not directly connected to the leads. We discuss our results in connection with similar results reported in the literature.     

Tunable quantum dot resonator embedded in a quantum wire

Combined quantum wire and quantum dot system is theoretically predicted to show unique conductance properties associated with Coulomb interactions. We use a split gate technique to fabricate a quantum wire containing a quantum dot with two tunable potential barriers in a two-dimensional electron gas. We observe the effects of the quantum dot cavity on the electron transport through the quantum wire, such as Coulomb oscillations near the pinch-off voltage and periodic conductance oscillations on the first conductance plateau.     

Dynamical localization effect in a coupled quantum dot array driven by an AC magnetic field

We have studied the transport properties of a ring-coupled quantum dot array driven by an AC magnetic field, which is connected to two leads, and we give the response of the transport current to the dynamical localization. We found that when the ratio of the magnetic flux to the total quantum dots number is a root of the zeroth order Bessel function, dynamical localization and collapse of quasi-energy occurs and importantly, the transport current displays a dip which is the signal of dynamical localization. The dynamical localization effect is strengthened as a result of the increase of the quantum dot number, and it is weakened on account of the increase of the dots-lead hopping rate.     

Macroscopic quantum tunneling of a bose condensate

We study, by means of a variational method, the stability of a condensate in a magnetically trapped atomic Bose gas with a negative scattering length and find that the condensate is unstable in general. However, for temperatures sufficiently close to the critical temperature the condensate turns out to be metastable. For that case we determine in the usual WKB approximation the decay rate of the condensate due to macroscopic quantum fluctuations. When appropriate, we also calculate the decay rate due to thermal fluctuations. An important feature of our approach is that (nonsingular) phase fluctuations of the condensate are taken into account exactly.     

Binding energies of an exciton in a Gaussian potential quantum dot

In this paper, an exciton trapped by a Gaussian confining potential quantum dot has been investigated. Calculations are made by using the method of numerical diagonalization of Hamiltonian in the effective-mass approximation. The dependences of binding energies of the ground state and the first excited state on the size of the confining potential and the strength of the magnetic field are analysed explicitly.