Transport through zero-dimensional states in a quantum dot

Abstract

We have studied the electron transport through zero-dimensional (0D) states. 0D states are formed when one-dimensional edge channels are confined in a quantum dot. The quantum dot is defined in a two-dimensional electron gas with a split gate technique. To allow electronic transport, connection to the dot is arranged via two quantum point contacts, which have adjustable selective transmission properties for edge channels. The 0D states show up as pronounced oscillations in the conductance (up to 40% of e 2 h ), when the flux enclosed by the confined edge channel is varied, either by changing the magnetic field or the gate voltage. A prerequisite for the appearance of 0D states is that the transport through the entire device is adiabatic (i.e. with conservation of quantum numbers), which will be shown to occur at high magnetic field. The experimental results are in good agreement with theory and show that in the ballistic quantum Hall regime the current is carried entirely by edge channels.