440 research outputs found
Determination of the complex microwave photoconductance of a single quantum dot
A small quantum dot containing approximately 20 electrons is realized in a
two-dimensional electron system of an AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure. Conventional
transport and microwave spectroscopy reveal the dot's electronic structure. By
applying a coherently coupled two-source technique, we are able to determine
the complex microwave induced tunnel current. The amplitude of this
photoconductance resolves photon-assisted tunneling (PAT) in the non-linear
regime through the ground state and an excited state as well. The out-of-phase
component (susceptance) allows to study charge relaxation within the quantum
dot on a time scale comparable to the microwave beat period.Comment: 5.5 pages, 6 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev. B (Jan. B15 2001
Josephson Junctions defined by a Nano-Plough
We define superconducting constrictions by ploughing a deposited Aluminum
film with a scanning probe microscope. The microscope tip is modified by
electron beam deposition to form a nano-plough of diamond-like hardness, what
allows the definition of highly transparent Josephson junctions. Additionally a
dc-SQUID is fabricated to verify appropriate functioning of the junctions. The
devices are easily integrated in mesoscopic devices as local radiation sources
and can be used as tunable on-chip millimeter wave sources
Spin blockade in ground state resonance of a quantum dot
We present measurements on spin blockade in a laterally integrated quantum
dot. The dot is tuned into the regime of strong Coulomb blockade, confining ~
50 electrons. At certain electronic states we find an additional mechanism
suppressing electron transport. This we identify as spin blockade at zero bias,
possibly accompanied by a change in orbital momentum in subsequent dot ground
states. We support this by probing the bias, magnetic field and temperature
dependence of the transport spectrum. Weak violation of the blockade is
modelled by detailed calculations of non-linear transport taking into account
forbidden transitions.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Microwave spectroscopy on a double quantum dot with an on-chip Josephson oscillator
We present measurements on microwave spectroscopy on a double quantum dot
with an on-chip microwave source. The quantum dots are realized in the
two-dimensional electron gas of an AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure and are weakly
coupled in series by a tunnelling barrier forming an 'ionic' molecular state.
We employ a Josephson oscillator formed by a long Nb/Al-AlO/Nb junction as
a microwave source. We find photon-assisted tunnelling sidebands induced by the
Josephson oscillator, and compare the results with those obtained using an
externally operated microwave source.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Single electron-phonon interaction in a suspended quantum dot phonon cavity
An electron-phonon cavity consisting of a quantum dot embedded in a
free-standing GaAs/AlGaAs membrane is characterized in Coulomb blockade
measurements at low temperatures. We find a complete suppression of single
electron tunneling around zero bias leading to the formation of an energy gap
in the transport spectrum. The observed effect is induced by the excitation of
a localized phonon mode confined in the cavity. This phonon blockade of
transport is lifted at magnetic fields where higher electronic states with
nonzero angular momentum are brought into resonance with the phonon energy.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Charge Sensing of an Artificial H2+ Molecule
We report charge detection studies of a lateral double quantum dot with
controllable charge states and tunable tunnel coupling. Using an integrated
electrometer, we characterize the equilibrium state of a single electron
trapped in the doubled-dot (artificial H2+ molecule) by measuring the average
occupation of one dot. We present a model where the electrostatic coupling
between the molecule and the sensor is taken into account explicitly. From the
measurements, we extract the temperature of the isolated electron and the
tunnel coupling energy. It is found that this coupling can be tuned between 0
and 60 micro electron-volt in our device.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Revised version with added material. To be
published in Physical Review
Nuclear spin relaxation probed by a single quantum dot
We present measurements on nuclear spin relaxation probed by a single quantum
dot in a high-mobility electron gas. Current passing through the dot leads to a
spin transfer from the electronic to the nuclear spin system. Applying electron
spin resonance the transfer mechanism can directly be tuned. Additionally, the
dependence of nuclear spin relaxation on the dot gate voltage is observed. We
find electron-nuclear relaxation times of the order of 10 minutes
Adiabatic Transfer of Electrons in Coupled Quantum Dots
We investigate the influence of dissipation on one- and two-qubit rotations
in coupled semiconductor quantum dots, using a (pseudo) spin-boson model with
adiabatically varying parameters. For weak dissipation, we solve a master
equation, compare with direct perturbation theory, and derive an expression for
the `fidelity loss' during a simple operation that adiabatically moves an
electron between two coupled dots. We discuss the possibility of visualizing
coherent quantum oscillations in electron `pump' currents, combining quantum
adiabaticity and Coulomb blockade. In two-qubit spin-swap operations where the
role of intermediate charge states has been discussed recently, we apply our
formalism to calculate the fidelity loss due to charge tunneling between two
dots.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
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