Quantum dot dephasing by edge states

Abstract

We calculate the dephasing rate of an electron state in a pinched quantum dot, due to Coulomb interactions between the electron in the dot and electrons in a nearby voltage biased ballistic nanostructure. The dephasing is caused by nonequilibrium time fluctuations of the electron density in the nanostructure, which create random electric fields in the dot. As a result, the electron level in the dot fluctuates in time, and the coherent part of the resonant transmission through the dot is suppressed