Spin fractionalization of an even number of electrons in a Quantum dot

TL;DR

This paper proposes an experiment to explore mesoscopic Kondo physics in quantum dots with an even number of electrons, revealing spin fractionalization phenomena linked to the total spin state of the dot.

Contribution

It introduces the novel idea that the total spin of a quantum dot with an even number of electrons can exhibit Kondo-like fractionalization, extending understanding of spin dynamics in mesoscopic systems.

Findings

Proposal of a non-perturbative tunneling experiment

Identification of spin fractionalization in the quantum dot

Insight into the mesoscopic Kondo problem

Abstract

An experiment is proposed of non perturbative tunneling in a Quantum dot connected to leads in a pillar configuration, which would shed light on the physics of the mesoscopic Kondo problem. We propose for the first time that what is coupled to the leads in the case of even number of electrons on the dot is not just the electrons on the QD, with their own spins, but the very total spin of the dot macroscopic state itself, that displays features of the Kondo physics, that leads to fractionalization of the spin in the dot, that is to a "spinon box".