Chaos in quantum dots: Dynamical modulation of coulomb blockade peak heights

We develop a semiclassical theory of Coulomb blockade peak heights in quantum dots and show that the dynamics in the dot leads to a large modulation of the peak height. The corrections to the standard statistical theory of peak height distributions, power spectra, and correlation functions are nonuniversal and can be expressed in terms of the classical periodic orbits of the dot that are well coupled to the leads. The resulting correlation function oscillates as a function of the peak number in a way defined by such orbits. In addition, the correlation of adjacent conductance peaks is enhanced. Both of these effects are in agreement with recent experiments. © 1999 The American Physical Society.

Duke Scholars

Author Harold U. Baranger Physics