Collective Coulomb Blockade in an Array of Quantum Dots: A Mott-Hubbard Approach

TL;DR

This paper explores how electron interactions in quantum dot arrays lead to phase transitions affecting Coulomb blockade behavior, using a Hubbard-like model to predict observable phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a Hubbard-like model to describe phase transitions in Coulomb blockade in quantum dot arrays, highlighting the role of interdot tunneling.

Findings

Identification of two phase transitions in Coulomb blockade regimes

Prediction of experimental signatures of collective Coulomb blockade

Demonstration of Coulomb blockade destruction at high tunneling

Abstract

We investigate the electron addition spectrum in a class of Hubbard-like models which describe arrays of coupled quantum dots. Interdot tunneling leads to a sequence of two phase transitions separating a region of collective Coulomb blockade from a region where the Coulomb blockade of individual dots is maintained and a region where the Coulomb blockade is destroyed altogether. Observable experimental consequences of our theory are discussed.