We measure the electron escape-rate from surface-acoustic-wave dynamic quantum dots (QDs) through a tunnel barrier. Rate-equations are used to extract the tunnelling rates, which change by an order of magnitude with tunnel-barrier gate voltage. We find that the tunnelling rates depend on the number of electrons in each dynamic QD because of Coulomb energy. By comparing this dependence to a saddle-point-potential model, the addition energies of the second and third electron in each dynamic QD are estimated. The scale (a few meV) is comparable to those in static QDs as expected.
Quantum dots defined in carbon nanotubes are a platform for both basic scientific studies and research into new device applications. In particular, they have unique properties that make them attractive for studying the coherent properties of single electron spins. To perform such experiments it is necessary to confine a single electron in a quantum dot with highly tunable barriers, but disorder has until now prevented tunable nanotube-based quantum-dot devices from reaching the single-electron regime. Here, we use local gate voltages applied to an ultra-clean suspended nanotube to confine a single electron in both a single quantum dot and, for the first time, in a tunable double quantum dot. This tunability is limited by a novel type of tunnelling that is analogous to that in the Klein paradox of relativistic quantum mechanics.
Quantum dots realized in InAs are versatile systems to study the effect of spin-orbit interaction on the spin coherence, as well as the possibility to manipulate single spins using an electric field. We present transport measurements on quantum dots realized in InAs nanowires. Lithographically defined top-gates are used to locally deplete the nanowire and to form tunneling barriers. By using three gates, we can form either single quantum dots, or two quantum dots in series along the nanowire. Measurements of the stability diagrams for both cases show that this method is suitable for producing high quality quantum dots in InAs.
We have studied the temperature dependent thermopower of gate-defined, lateral quantum dots in the Coulomb blockade regime using an electron heating technique. The line shape of the thermopower oscillations depends strongly on the contributing tunneling processes. Between 1.5 K and 40 mK a crossover from a pure sawtooth- to an intermitted sawtooth-like line shape is observed. The latter is attributed to the increasing dominance of cotunneling processes in the Coulomb blockade regime at low temperatures.
Strong confinement of charges in few electron systems such as in atoms, molecules and quantum dots leads to a spectrum of discrete energy levels that are often shared by several degenerate quantum states. Since the electronic structure is key to understanding their chemical properties, methods that probe these energy levels in situ are important. We show how electrostatic force detection using atomic force microscopy reveals the electronic structure of individual and coupled self-assembled quantum dots. An electron addition spectrum in the Coulomb blockade regime, resulting from a change in cantilever resonance frequency and dissipation during tunneling events, shows one by one electron charging of a dot. The spectra show clear level degeneracies in isolated quantum dots, supported by the first observation of predicted temperature-dependent shifts of Coulomb blockade peaks. Further, by scanning the surface we observe that several quantum dots may reside on what topologically appears to be just one. These images of grouped weakly and strongly coupled dots allow us to estimate their relative coupling strengths.
We study ground states and excited states in semiconductor quantum dots containing 1 to 12 electrons. For the first time, it is possible to identify the quantum numbers of the states in the excitation spectra and make a direct comparison to exact calculations. A magnetic field induces transitions between excited states and ground state. These transitions are discussed in terms of crossings between single-particle states, singlet-triplet transitions, spin polarization, and Hunds rule. Our impurity-free quantum dots allow for atomic physics experiments in magnetic field regimes not accessible for atoms.