Interference through quantum dots

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum interference affects electron transport in quantum dots, introducing a parameter for interference control, and analyzing current suppression and restoration mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces an indirect coherent coupling parameter to quantify interference effects and studies their impact on transport properties in quantum dots.

Findings

Quantum interference can suppress current significantly.

Applying an oscillating field restores suppressed current.

Visibility of Aharonov-Bohm oscillations is evaluated.

Abstract

We discuss the effect of quantum interference on transport through a quantum dot system. We introduce an indirect coherent coupling parameter alpha, which provides constructive/destructive interference in the transport current depending on its phase and the magnetic flux. We estimate the current through the quantum dot system using the non-equilibrium Green's function method as well as the master equation method in the sequential tunneling regime. The visibility of the Aharonov-Bohm oscillation is evaluated. For a large inter-dot Coulomb interaction, the current is strongly suppressed by the quantum interference effect, while the current is restored by applying an oscillating resonance field with the frequency of twice the inter-dot tunneling energy.