Phase coherence in the inelastic cotunneling regime

TL;DR

This paper investigates phase coherence in inelastic cotunneling through quantum dots embedded in an Aharonov-Bohm setup, revealing high visibility oscillations and a phase shift at inelastic thresholds.

Contribution

It demonstrates phase coherence in inelastic cotunneling with high visibility and observes a phase shift at the inelastic cotunneling onset.

Findings

High visibility (>0.8) Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in cotunneling regime

Detection of a pi phase shift at inelastic cotunneling onset

Evidence of phase coherence in elastic and inelastic cotunneling

Abstract

Two quantum dots with tunable mutual tunnel coupling have been embedded in a two-terminal Aharonov-Bohm geometry. Aharonov-Bohm oscillations are investigated in the cotunneling regime. Visibilities of more than 0.8 are measured indicating that phase-coherent processes are involved in the elastic and inelastic cotunneling. An oscillation-phase change of pi is detected as a function of bias voltage at the inelastic cotunneling onset.