Functional renormalization group study of parallel double quantum dots: Effects of asymmetric dot-lead couplings

Abstract

We explore the effects of asymmetry of hopping parameters between double parallel quantum dots and the leads on the conductance and a possibility of local magnetic moment formation in this system using functional renormalization group approach with the counterterm. We demonstrate a possibility of a quantum phase transition to a local moment regime (so called singular Fermi liquid (SFL) state) for various types of hopping asymmetries and discuss respective gate voltage dependences of the conductance. It is shown, that depending on the type of the asymmetry, the system can demonstrate either a first order quantum phase transition to SFL state, accompanied by a discontinuous change of the conductance, similarly to the symmetric case, or the second order quantum phase transition, in which the conductance is continuous and exhibits Fano-type asymmetric resonance near the transition point. A semi-analytical explanation of these different types of conductance behavior is presented.