Coulomb blockade and transport in a chain of one-dimensional quantum dots

TL;DR

This paper models a one-dimensional wire with random impurities as a chain of quantum dots, analyzing how interactions and disorder cause resistance to depend on temperature and voltage through power-law behaviors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model linking impurity distribution to resistance behavior in quantum dot chains, highlighting the impact of disorder and interactions.

Findings

Resistance exhibits power-law dependence on T and V.

Different exponents depend on electronic parameters and impurity statistics.

Breaks dominate low-temperature and low-voltage transport.

Abstract

A long one-dimensional wire with a finite density of strong random impurities is modelled as a chain of weakly coupled quantum dots. At low temperature T and applied voltage V its resistance is limited by "breaks": randomly occuring clusters of quantum dots with a special length distribution pattern that inhibits the transport. Due to the interplay of interaction and disorder effects the resistance can exhibit T and V dependences that can be approximated by power laws. The corresponding two exponents differ greatly from each other and depend not only on the intrinsic electronic parameters but also on the impurity distribution statistics.