Correlated electrons in coupled quantum dots and related phenomena

Abstract

Three topics related to correlated electrons in coupled quantum dots are discussed. The first is quasi-resonance between multi-electron states, which causes hitherto unremarked types of resonant absorption in coupled quantum dots. The second is electron tunneling through a Hubbard gap, which is induced by an increase in the density of electrons in a quantum-dot chain under an overall confining potential. The third is Mott transition in a two-dimensional quantum-dot array induced by an external electric field. In this system, the metal-insulator transition goes through a heavy electron phase in which the density of correlated electrons fluctuates.