Non-Fermi-Liquid in a modified single electron transistor

TL;DR

This paper investigates how to realize non-Fermi-liquid behavior in a modified single electron transistor by controlling electrochemical potentials, with implications for experimental observation of such quantum states.

Contribution

It identifies the conditions necessary for stabilizing a multi-channel Kondo fixed point in a modified single electron transistor.

Findings

Conditions for non-Fermi-liquid behavior are established.

Gate voltages can be tuned to achieve the desired fixed point.

Experimental signatures of non-Fermi-liquid states are discussed.

Abstract

At low temperatures, a system built from a small droplet of electrons and a larger, but still finite, droplet may display non-Fermi-liquid behavior. Stabilization of a multi-channel Kondo fixed point requires fine control of the electrochemical potential in each droplet. The desired fine control can be achieved by adjusting voltages on nearby gate electrodes. We study the conditions for obtaining this type of non-Fermi-liquid behavior and discuss the experimentally-observable consequences.