Kondo effect in quantum dots

TL;DR

This paper reviews how the Kondo effect influences electronic transport in quantum dots at low temperatures, highlighting the transition from Coulomb blockade to increased conductance due to many-body interactions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms and temperature-dependent behavior of the Kondo effect in quantum dot systems, especially lateral quantum dots.

Findings

Conductance is suppressed by Coulomb blockade at moderate low temperatures.

At lower temperatures, conductance increases due to the Kondo effect.

The review covers a broad temperature range including the Kondo regime.

Abstract

We review mechanisms of low-temperature electronic transport through a quantum dot weakly coupled to two conducting leads. Transport in this case is dominated by electron-electron interaction. At temperatures moderately lower than the charging energy of the dot, the linear conductance is suppressed by the Coulomb blockade. Upon further lowering of the temperature, however, the conductance may start to increase again due to the Kondo effect. We concentrate on lateral quantum dot systems and discuss the conductance in a broad temperature range, which includes the Kondo regime.