Kondo effect in nanostructures

TL;DR

This paper reviews the fundamental physics of the Kondo effect and its impact on low-temperature electronic transport in nanoscale systems, especially in single-electron transistors.

Contribution

It provides a concise overview of how the Kondo effect arises in nanostructures and its significance in mesoscopic transport phenomena.

Findings

Kondo effect influences low-temperature transport in nanoscale systems.

Coupling to Fermi gas induces transitions in degenerate ground states.

Tuning nanostructures near degeneracy points enhances Kondo phenomena.

Abstract

Kondo effect arises whenever a coupling to the Fermi gas induces transitions within the otherwise degenerate ground state multiplet of an interacting system. Both coupling to the Fermi gas and interactions are naturally present in any nanoscale transport experiment. At the same time, many nanostructures can easily be tuned to the vicinity of a degeneracy point. This is why the Kondo effect in its various forms often influences the low temperature transport in meso- and nanoscale systems. In this short review we discuss the basic physics of the Kondo effect and its manifestations in the low-temperature electronic transport through a single electron transistor.