Jahn-Teller / Kondo Interplay in a Three-Terminal Quantum Dot

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the Jahn-Teller effect influences the Kondo physics in a three-terminal quantum dot, revealing complex hybridization and symmetry-breaking phenomena in strongly-coupled lead systems.

Contribution

It provides direct experimental evidence of Jahn-Teller distortions affecting Kondo states in quantum dots with orbital degeneracy.

Findings

Hybrid quantum dot-lead systems exhibit non-linear behavior.

Geometric distortions lift orbital degeneracy.

Jahn-Teller effect influences Kondo screening.

Abstract

In quantum dot circuits, screening electron clouds in strongly-coupled leads will hybridize with the states of the artificial atom. Using a three-terminal geometry, we directly probe the atomic structure of a quantum dot with Kondo coupling. Our measurements reveal that this hybrid system behaves as a non-linear entity with orbital degeneracy. Geometric distortion reduces the symmetry, lowers the energy, and lifts the degeneracy--the Jahn-Teller effect.