Evidence of quantum interference in transport properties of a triple quantum dot T-shape system

We consider the transport and the noise characteristic in the case of a triple quantum dots T-shape system where two of the dots form a two-level system and the other works in a detector-like setup. Our theoretical results are obtained using the equation of motion method for the case of zero and finite on-site Coulomb interaction in the detector dot. We present analytic results for the electronic Green’s functions in the system’s component quantum dots, and we used numerical calculations to evaluate the system’s transport properties. The transport trough the T-shaped system can be controlled by varying the coupling between the two-level system dots or the coupling between the detector dot and the exterior electrodes. The system’s conductance presents Fano dips for both strong (fast detector) and weak coupling (slow detector) between the detector dot and the external electrodes. Due to stronger electronic correlations the noise characteristics in the case of a slow detector are much higher. This setup may be of interest for the practical realization of qubit states in quantum dots systems.     

Quantum dots investigated with charge detection techniques

The detection of the quantum dot charge state using a quantum point contact charge detector has opened a new exciting route for the investigation of quantum dot devices in recent years. In particular, time-resolved charge detection allowed the precise measurement of quantum dot shot noise at sub-femtoampere current levels, and the full counting statistics of the current. The technique can be applied to different material systems and holds promise for future application in quantum dot based quantum information processing implementations. We review recent experiments employing this charge detection technique, including the self-interference of individual electrons and back-action phenomena.     

Uniform Descriptions of Electron-IO Phonon Interaction in Structures of Multi-layer Coupling Low-dimensional Systems

By using the transfer matrix method, within the framework of the dielectric continuum approximation, uniform forms for the interface optical (IO) phonon modes as well as the corresponding electron-IO phonon interaction Hamiltonians in n-layer coupling low-dimensional systems (including the coupling quantum well (CQW), coupling quantum-well wire (CQWW), and coupling quantum dot (CQD)) have been presented. Numerical calculations on the three-layer asymmetrical AlGaAs/GaAs systems are performed, and the analogous characteristics for limited frequencies of IO phonon in the three types of systems (CQW, CQWW, and CQD) when the wave-vector and the quantum number approach zero or infinity are analyzed and specified.     

Uniform Descriptions of Electron-IO Phonon Interaction in Structures of Multi-layer Coupling Low-dimensional Systems

By using the transfer matrix method, within the framework of the dielectric continuum approximation,uniform forms for the interface optical (IO) phonon modes as well as the corresponding electron-IO phonon interaction Hamiltonians in n-layer coupling low-dimensional systems (including the coupling quantum well (CQ W), coupling quantum-well wire (CQWW), and coupling quantum dot (CQD)) have been presented. Numerical calculations on the three-layer asymmetrical AIGaAs/GaAs systems are performed, and the analogous characteristics for limited frequencies of IO phonon in the three types of systems (CQW, CQWW, and CQD) when the wave-vector and the quantum number approach zero or infinity are analyzed and specified.     

New Design for Quantum Dots Cellular Automata to obtain Fault Tolerant Logic Gates

In this paper, we analyze fault tolerance properties of the Majority Gate, as the main logic gate for implementation with Quantum dots Cellular Automata (QCA), in terms of fabrication defect. Our results demonstrate the poor fault tolerance properties of the conventional design of Majority Gate and thus the difficulty in its practical application. We propose a new approach to the design of QCA-based Majority Gate by considering two-dimensional arrays of QCA cells rather than a single cell for the design of such a gate. We analyze fault tolerance properties of such Block Majority Gates in terms of inputs misalignment and irregularity and defect (missing cells) in assembly of the array. We present simulation results based on semiconductor implementation of QCA with an intermediate dimensional dot of about 5 nm in size as opposed to magnetic dots of greater than 100 nm or molecular dots of 2–5Å. Our results clearly demonstrate the superior fault tolerance properties of the Block Majority Gate and its greater potential for a practical realization. We also show the possibility of designing fault tolerant QCA circuits by using Block Majority Gates.     

Robust Coplanar Full Adder Based on Novel Inverter in Quantum Cellular Automata

Quantum dot cellular automata (QCA) is one of the nano-scale computing paradigms which promises high speed and ultra-low power consumption. Since the one-bit full adder is a fundamental building block of arithmetic circuits, designing an efficient QCA full adder cell is very imperative in this new technology. In this paper, we propose a QCA full adder using a new inverter gate which leads to reduced complexity and area occupation. The proposed layout is simulated by the QCA designer engines. We also provide a performance comparison of our proposed QCA full adder with the previous relevant designs. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of energy dissipation is performed which demonstrates the superiority of the proposed design in terms of the energy efficiency.

     

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.     

Charge and current beats in T-shaped qubit–detector systems

The time evolution of a charge qubit coupled electrostatically with different detectors in the forms of single, double and triple quantum dot linear systems in the T-shaped configuration between two reservoirs is theoretically considered. The correspondence between the qubit quantum dot oscillations and the detector current is studied for different values of the inter-dot tunneling amplitudes and the qubit–detector interaction strength. We have found that even for a qubit coupled with a single QD detector, the coherent beat patterns appear in the oscillations of the qubit charge. This effect is more evident for a qubit coupled with double or triple-QD detectors. The beats can be also observed in both the detector current and the detector quantum dot occupations. Moreover, in the presence of beats the qubit oscillations hold longer in time in comparison with the beats-free systems with monotonously decaying oscillations. The dependence of the qubit dynamics on different initial occupations of the detector sites (memory effect) is also analyzed.     

Individual and collective vibrational modes of nanostructures studied by picosecond ultrasonics

We report on picosecond ultrasonic measurements obtained on aluminum and platinum nanostructures with variable dot size and lateral periodicity which realized a 2D phononic crystal. Performing investigations at different resolution scales, we have identified individual modes of vibration depending on the dot size, and mode of vibration strongly correlated with the bi-dimensional organization. The platinum dots sputtered on an aluminum layer have shown a behavior of isolated oscillators without any coupling between neighbor elements in this phononic crystal. The frequency of such normal modes, extracted from time resolved measurements are in good agreement with 3D finite element simulations. In contrast, with aluminum dot systems where the coupling is more efficient we observe a complex spectrum of vibrational modes related to the band structure induced by the bi-dimensional patterning.     

Controlled dephasing of a quantum dot: from coherent to sequential tunneling

Resonant tunneling through two identical potential barriers renders them transparent, as particle trajectories interfere coherently. Here we realize resonant tunneling in a quantum dot (QD), and show that detection of electron trajectories renders the dot nearly insulating. Measurements were made in the integer quantum Hall regime, with the tunneling electrons in an inner edge channel coupled to detector electrons in a neighboring outer channel, which was partitioned. Quantitative analysis indicates that just a few detector electrons completely dephase the QD.     

Designing a New 4:2 Compressor Using an Efficient Multi-Layer Full-Adder Based on Nanoscale Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is novel prominent nanotechnology. It promises a substitution to Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) technology with a higher scale integration, smaller size, faster speed, higher switching frequency, and lower power consumption. It also causes digital circuits to be schematized with incredible velocity and density. The full adder, compressor, and multiplier circuits are the basic units in the QCA technology. Compressors are an important class of arithmetic circuits, and researchers can use quantum compressors in the structure of complex systems. In this paper, first, a novel three-input multi-layer full-adder in QCA technology is designed, and based on it, a new multi-layer 4:2 compressor is presented. The proposed QCA-based full-adder and compressor uses an XOR gate. The proposed design offers good performance regarding the delay, area size, and cell number comparing to the existing ones. Also, in this gate, the output signal is not enclosed, and we can use it easily. The accuracy of the suggested circuits has been assessed with the utilization of QCADesigner 2.0.3. The results show that the proposed 4:2 compressor architecture utilizes 75 cell and 1.25 clock phases, which are efficient than other designs.

     

Single-shot detection of electrons generated by individual photons in a tunable lateral quantum dot

We demonstrate single-shot detection of single electrons generated by single photons using an electrically tunable quantum dot and a quantum point contact charge detector. By tuning the quantum dot in a Coulomb blockade before the photoexcitation, we observe the trapping and subsequent resetting of single photogenerated electrons. The photogenerated electrons can be stored in the dot for a tunable time range from shorter to longer than the spin-flip time T1. We combine this trap-reset technique with spin-dependent tunneling under magnetic fields to observe the spin-dependent photon detection within the T1.     

Enhanced photomultiplier sensitivity in spectroscopy systems

A fiber-ribbon-based coupling method is presented as a practical way to enhance light sensitivity in spectroscopic and similar systems employing a multialkali photomultiplier tube as a detector. The sensitivity enhancement is achieved by an increase in absorption in the photocathode through multiple total internal reflection in the photomultiplier entrance window. Improvements by factors of ~2 (blue-green) to more than 10 (near infrared) have been measured. Implications for spectroscopic applications are discussed.     

Bound polaron in a two- and three-dimensional quantum dot for arbitrary electron–phonon coupling strength

A variational approach is presented for calculating the ground-state (GS) binding energies of an electron bound to a Coulomb impurity in a polar semiconductor quantum dot (QD) with parabolic confinement in both two and three dimensions. We perform calculations for the entire range of the electron-phonon coupling constant and the Coulomb binding parameter and for arbitrary confinement length. It is found that the polaronic effect is stronger in a two dimensions (2D) dot than in a three dimensions (3D) dot and this trend is more pronounced with the increase of the coupling constant. Furthermore, the GS binding energy increases with increasing the Coulomb binding parameter in both 2D and 3D QDs for the same electron–phonon coupling constant. The results also indicate that this effect becomes much more pronounced with decreasing dimensionality.     

量子点中强耦合极化子的性质

采用Pekar类型的变分方法研究了抛物量子点中强耦合极化子的基态和激发态的性质。计算了基态和激发态极化子的结合能、光学声子平均数和极化子的共振频率。讨论了这些量对有效限制强度和电子 体纵光学声子耦合强度的依赖关系。结果表明:抛物量子点中极化子的共振频率、基态和激发态极化子的结合能以及光学声子平均数都随量子点的有效束缚强度的增大而减小。光学声子平均数随电子 体纵光学声子耦合强度的增加而增大。     

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.     

New log-t-based CFAR detectors for a non-homogeneous Weibull Background

Based on new log-t-based detectors, we propose to improve the detection performances of the log-t-Constant False Alarm Rate (log-t-CFAR) detector for a non-homogeneous Weibull background. This paper is twofold. We first resort to the Automatic Constant False Censoring Rate (CFCR) algorithm, which guarantees an accurate rejection of an a priori unknown number of outliers. That is, we introduce two hybrid detectors by coupling the log-t-CFAR algorithm to the Maximum Likelihood-CFCR (MLE-CFCR) algorithm, yielding the H-MLE/log-t-CFAR detector, and to the Weber-Haykin Constant False Censoring Rate (WH-CFCR) algorithm, yielding the H-WH/log-t-CFAR detector. Then, based on the Variability Index (VI) as a background discriminator, we propose the Switching VI-log-t-CFAR (SVI-log-t-CFAR) detector. Thus, depending on the background heterogeneity, this detector has the capability to switch automatically to the appropriate detector; namely, the log-t-CFAR detector, in case of a homogeneous background, either one of the hybrid detectors, in case of the presence of outliers or the Automatic Edge Censoring log-t-CFAR (AEC-log-t-CFAR) detector, in case of the presence of a clutter edge. We assess the efficiency of these detectors through intensive Monte Carlo simulations. We show that, while no additional detection performances are observed in a homogeneous background, the new detectors exhibit a significant CFAR gain with respect to the log-t-CFAR detector in the presence of any inhomogeneity within the reference window.     

Performance of superconducting nanowire single-photon detector with the fan coupling antenna array

The performance of superconducting nanowire single-photon detector （SNSPD） involving niobium nitride with the fan coupling antenna array is analyzed. The SNSPD has a high detection efficiency and counting rate. Hydrogen silsesquioxane and niobium nitride are filled in the gold grating deposited on the substrate in which the fan coupling antenna arrays are embedded. By changing the position of the fan coupling antenna array, the maximum area of optical intensity is obtained and the photon collection efficiency is increased by 26.5 times. The detection efficiency of SNSPD is improved without changing the detection speed. These parameters are important for designing a practical single-photon detector,     

Design of Improved Arithmetic Logic Unit in Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata

The quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) can be replaced to overcome the limitation of CMOS technology. An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is a basic structure of any computer devices. In this paper, design of improved single-bit arithmetic logic unit in quantum dot cellular automata is presented. The proposed structure for ALU has AND, OR, XOR and ADD operations. A unique 2:1 multiplexer, an ultra-efficient two-input XOR and a low complexity full adder are used in the proposed structure. Also, an extended design of this structure is provided for two-bit ALU in this paper. The proposed structure of ALU is simulated by QCADesigner and simulation result is evaluated. Evaluation results show that the proposed design has best performance in terms of area, complexity and delay compared to the previous designs.     

Novel Efficient Circuit Design for Multilayer QCA RCA

The novel emerging technology, QCA technology, is a candidate for replacing CMOS technology. Full Adder (FA) circuits are also widely used circuits in arithmetic circuits design. In this paper, two new multilayer QCA architectures are presented: one-bit FA and 4-bit Ripple Carry Adder (RCA). The designed one-bit multilayer FA architecture is based on a new XOR gate architecture. The designed 4-bit multilayer QCA RCA is also developed based on the designed one-bit multilayer QCA FA. The functionality of the designed architectures are verified using QCADesigner tool. The results indicate that the designed architecture for 4-bit multilayer QCA RCA requires 5 clock phases, 125 QCA cells, and 0.17 μm² area. The comparison results confirm that the designed architectures provide improvements compared with other adder architectures in terms of cost, cell count, and area.