Transport properties of quantum dots in the Wigner molecule regime

F Cavaliere, U De Giovannini, M Sassetti, B Kramer
2009 New Journal of Physics  
The transport properties of quantum dots with up to N=7 electrons ranging from the weak to the strong interacting regime are investigated via the projected Hartree-Fock technique. As interactions increase radial order develops in the dot, with the formation of ring and centered-ring structures. Subsequently, angular correlations appear, signalling the formation of a Wigner molecule state. We show striking signatures of the emergence of Wigner molecules, detected in transport. In the linear
more » ... e, conductance is exponentially suppressed as the interaction strength grows. A further suppression is observed when centered-ring structures develop, or peculiar spin textures appear. In the nonlinear regime, the formation of molecular states may even lead to a conductance enhancement.
doi:10.1088/1367-2630/11/12/123004 fatcat:gxsh73a2mneq3nv2krrqcp6ksm