“Horizontal” and “vertical” quantum-dot molecules

Abstract

An analysis is made of a two-electron system of two adjacent quantum dots (QD) with a two-dimensional parabolic lateral confining potential, and of two coupled or double, spatially separated QDs (a “horizontal” and a “vertical” QD molecule), and of their behavior in an external transverse magnetic field. The ground-state energies and energy spectra of the system have been determined by various methods (Heitler-London, molecular-orbital, variational approach, and numerical diagonalization of Hamiltonian), with inclusion of electron-electron interaction, and for a broad range of confining-potential steepness, QD-center spacing (interlayer distance), and external magnetic field.