Correlation Effects in Wave Function Mapping of Molecular Beam Epitaxy Grown Quantum Dots

TL;DR

This paper explores how electron-electron interactions influence wave function mapping in InAs quantum dots, revealing correlation effects that challenge independent-electron models through experimental and theoretical analysis.

Contribution

It demonstrates the importance of many-body correlations in wave function imaging of quantum dots, providing experimental evidence and theoretical explanation for observed phenomena.

Findings

Four resolved states with s and p symmetries identified

Major axes of p-like states are aligned, indicating correlation effects

Wave function maps are inconsistent with independent-electron models

Abstract

We investigate correlation effects in the regime of a few electrons in uncapped InAs quantum dots by tunneling spectroscopy and wave function (WF) mapping at high tunneling currents where electron-electron interactions become relevant. Four clearly resolved states are found, whose approximate symmetries are roughly s and p, in order of increasing energy. Because the major axes of the p-like states coincide, the WF sequence is inconsistent with the imaging of independent-electron orbitals. The results are explained in terms of many-body tunneling theory, by comparing measured maps with those calculated by taking correlation effects into account.