Kondo Effect in Artificial and Real Molecules

TL;DR

This thesis explores the Kondo effect in nano-objects like triple quantum dots and molecular sandwiches, highlighting their unique dynamical symmetries and potential for experimental tuning in tunneling phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a new theoretical framework for understanding dynamical symmetries in Kondo tunneling through nano-objects, with practical examples involving various trimer configurations.

Findings

Demonstrated the presence of dynamical symmetries in trimers.

Showed experimental tunability of these symmetries.

Developed a general approach to analyze Kondo effects in nano-structures.

Abstract

In this Thesis we develop a novel direction in the theory of nano-objects, i.e., structures of nanometer size in a tunnel contact with macroscopic electron reservoirs (metallic leads). In particular we elucidate the Kondo effect predicted in tunneling through triple quantum dots and sandwich-type molecules adsorbed on metallic substrate, which are referred to as trimers. The unusual dynamical symmetry of nano-objects is one of the most intriguing problems, which arise in the theory of these systems. We demonstrate that trimers possess dynamical symmetries whose realization in Kondo tunneling is experimentally tangible. Such experimental tuning of dynamical symmetries is not possible in conventional Kondo scattering. We develop the general approach to the problem of dynamical symmetries in Kondo tunneling through nano-objects and illustrate it by numerous examples of trimers in various configurations, in parallel, in series and in ring geometries.