Temperature and magnetic-field dependence of the quantum corrections to the conductance of a network of quantum dots

TL;DR

This paper calculates how magnetic fields and temperature affect quantum corrections to conductance in a large quantum dot network, revealing a temperature-dependent dephasing rate.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical framework expressing conductance corrections solely in terms of contact conductances, form factors, and dot capacitances, including temperature effects.

Findings

Quantum corrections depend on magnetic field and temperature.

Weak localization correction exhibits a temperature-dependent dephasing rate.

Results applicable to large quantum dot networks with classical conductance dominance.

Abstract

We calculate the magnetic-field and temperature dependence of all quantum corrections to the ensemble-averaged conductance of a network of quantum dots. We consider the limit that the dimensionless conductance of the network is large, so that the quantum corrections are small in comparison to the leading, classical contribution to the conductance. For a quantum dot network the conductance and its quantum corrections can be expressed solely in terms of the conductances and form factors of the contacts and the capacitances of the quantum dots. In particular, we calculate the temperature dependence of the weak localization correction and show that it is described by an effective dephasing rate proportional to temperature.