Non-coherent transport in serial/parallel quantum dots in self-consistent field regime

TL;DR

This paper presents a phenomenological model for electron transport in serial and parallel quantum dots, revealing phenomena like negative differential resistance and asymmetric current due to capacitive effects.

Contribution

It introduces a simple, extendable model for quantum dot conduction considering self-consistent potentials and charge effects, including new insights into transport behaviors.

Findings

Negative Differential Resistance observed in serial quantum dots

Resonant conductance phenomena identified

Asymmetric current due to capacitive coupling in parallel dots

Abstract

In this paper we introduce a simple phenomenological model of the conduction between a couple of serial or parallel quantum dots. This model is extended to arbitrary of number and to a square array of quantum dots. The local potential is computed taking into account the net charge at the quantum dot. Master equation are presented for total current and charge number N taking considering both the local potential and the local current. Interesting results are reported, namely the Negative Differential Resistance for serial quantum dots as well as resonant conductance. A paradoxical asymmetric current appears for the parallel case due to the capacitive coupling.