Geometrically Induced Multiple Coulomb Blockade Gaps

TL;DR

This paper theoretically studies a ring-shaped tunnel junction array, revealing that long-range interactions and semi-isolation cause stable electron configurations and multiple Coulomb blockade gaps in its current-voltage behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical analysis of how long-range interactions induce multiple Coulomb blockade gaps in a ring-shaped tunnel junction array.

Findings

Stable standing electron configurations form due to long-range interactions.

Transitions between odd and even electron numbers cause Coulomb blockade gaps.

Multiple Coulomb blockade gaps appear in the I-V characteristics.

Abstract

We have theoretically investigated the transport properties of a ring-shaped array of small tunnel junctions, which is weakly coupled to the drain electrode. We have found that the long range interaction together with the semi-isolation of the array bring about the formation of stable standing configurations of electrons. The stable configurations break up during each transition from odd to even number of trapped electrons, leading to multiple Coulomb blockade gaps in the the $I-V$ characteristics of the system.