Odd-even effects in small quantum dots

Abstract

Fermionic statistics shows unique features in many natural phenomena due to the Pauli exclusion principle. In semiconductor quantum dots, the Coulomb blockade (CB) conductance oscillation in the electron transport is expected to exhibit pairing and odd-even effects due to the spin degrees of freedom. We studied the distinct signatures of the odd-even effects in small GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum dots observable in the pairing behavior of the CB peak spacing, as well as the spin-related Kondo effect, in low-temperature transport measurements. The paring of the peak spacing is found to depend strongly on the r(s) value characterizing the electron-electron interaction strength of the electronic system.