Photon Assisted Tunneling in Quantum Dots

TL;DR

This paper reviews experiments demonstrating photon-assisted tunneling in quantum dots, where microwave signals induce inelastic tunneling and sideband resonances, revealing new transport phenomena involving photon exchange and excited states.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of experimental observations of photon-assisted tunneling in quantum dots, highlighting the role of microwave signals in enabling inelastic tunneling processes.

Findings

Observation of sideband resonances due to photon absorption

Photon-assisted tunneling involving excited states

Microwave signals enable inelastic tunneling in quantum dots

Abstract

We review experiments on single electron transport through single quantum dots in the presence of a microwave signal. In the case of a small dot with well-resolved discrete energy states, the applied high-frequency signal allows for inelastic tunnel events that involve the exchange of photons with the microwave field. These photon assisted tunneling (PAT) processes give rise to sideband resonances in addition to the main resonance. Photon absorption can also lead to tunneling via excited states instead of tunneling via the ground state of the quantum dot.