Tunable noise cross correlations in a double quantum dot

Tunneling current and noise of entangled electrons in correlated double quantum dot

We developed general approach for the analysis of tunneling current and its zero frequency noise for a wide class of systems where electron transport occurs through the intermediate structure with localized electrons. Proposed approach opens the possibility to study electron transport through multi-electron correlated states and allows to reveal the influence of spatial and spin symmetry of the total system on the electron transport. This approach is based on Keldysh diagram technique in pseudo-particle representation taking into account the operator constraint on the number of pseudo-particles, which gives the possibility to exclude non-physical states. It was shown that spatial and spin symmetry of the total system can block some channels for electron transport through the correlated quantum dots. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the stationary tunneling current and zero frequency noise in correlated coupled quantum dots depend on initial state of the system. In the frame of the proposed approach it was also shown that for the parallel coupling of two correlated quantum dots to the reservoirs tunneling current and its zero frequency noise are suppressed if tunneling occurs through the entangled triplet state with zero total spin projection on the z axis or enhanced for the tunneling through the singlet state in comparison with electron transport through the uncorrelated localized single-electron state. Obtained results demonstrate that two-electron entangled states in correlated quantum dots give the possibility to tune the zero frequency noise amplitude by blocking some channels for electron transport that is very promising in the sense of two-electron entangled states application in quantum communication and logic devices. The obtained nonmonotonic behavior of Fano factor as a function of applied bias is the direct manifestation of the possibility to control the noise to signal ration in correlated quantum dots. We also provide detailed calculations of current and noise for both single type of carriers and two different types of carriers in the presence and in the absence of Coulomb interaction in Supplementary materials.

Andreev-Coulomb Drag in Coupled Quantum Dots

The Coulomb drag effect has been observed as a tiny current induced by both electron-hole asymmetry and interactions in normal coupled quantum dot devices. In the present work we show that the effect can be boosted by replacing one of the normal electrodes by a superconducting one. Moreover, we show that at low temperatures and for sufficiently strong coupling to the superconducting lead, the Coulomb drag is dominated by Andreev processes, is robust against details of the system parameters, and can be controlled with a single gate voltage. This mechanism can be distinguished from single-particle contributions by a sign inversion of the drag current.

Cross-correlations in a quantum dot Cooper pair splitter with ferromagnetic leads

We investigate Andreev transport through a quantum dot attached to two external ferromagnetic leads and one superconducting electrode. The transport properties of the system are studied by means of the real-time diagrammatic technique in the sequential tunneling regime. To distinguish various contributions to Andreev current we calculate the current cross-correlations, i.e. correlations between currents flowing through two junctions with normal leads. We analyze dependence of current cross-correlations on various parameters of the considered model, both in linear and nonlinear transport regimes. The processes and mechanisms leading to enhancement, suppression or sign change of current cross-correlations are examined and discussed. Interestingly, our results show that for specific transport regimes splitted Cooper pair results in two uncorrelated electrons. However, utilizing ferromagnetic leads instead of non-magnetic electrodes can result in positive current cross-correlations.

First-passage times in renewal and nonrenewal systems

Fluctuations in stochastic systems are usually characterized by full counting statistics, which analyzes the distribution of the number of events taking place in the fixed time interval. In an alternative approach, the distribution of the first-passage times, i.e., the time delays after which the counting variable reaches a certain threshold value, is studied. This paper presents the approach to calculate the first-passage time distribution in systems in which the analyzed current is associated with an arbitrary set of transitions within the Markovian network. Using this approach, it is shown that when the subsequent first-passage times are uncorrelated, there exist strict relations between the cumulants of the full counting statistics and the first-passage time distribution. On the other hand, when the correlations of the first-passage times are present, their distribution may provide additional information about the internal dynamics of the system in comparison to the full counting statistics; for example, it may reveal the switching between different dynamical states of the system. Additionally, I show that breaking of the fluctuation theorem for first-passage times may reveal the multicyclic nature of the Markovian network.

Negative and positive cross-correlations of current noises in quantum Hall edge channels at bulk filling factor [Formula: see text]

Cross-correlation noise in electrical currents generated from a series connection of two quantum point contacts (QPCs), the injector and the detector, is described for investigating energy relaxation in quantum Hall edge channels at bulk filling factor [Formula: see text]. We address the importance of tuning the energy bias across the detector for this purpose. For a long channel with a macroscopic floating ohmic contact that thermalizes the electrons, the cross-correlation turns from negative values to the maximally positive value (identical noise in the two currents) by tuning the effective energy bias to zero. This can be understood by considering competition between the low-frequency charge fluctuation generated at the injector, which contributes positive correlation, and the partition noise at the detector, which gives negative correlation. Strikingly, even for a short channel without intentional thermalization, significantly large positive correlation is observed in contrast to negative values expected for coherent transport between the two QPCs.

Current cross-correlations in double quantum dot based Cooper pair splitters with ferromagnetic leads

We investigate the current cross-correlations in a double quantum dot based Cooper pair splitter coupled to one superconducting and two ferromagnetic electrodes. The analysis is performed by assuming a weak coupling between the double dot and ferromagnetic leads, while the coupling to the superconductor is arbitrary. Employing the perturbative real-time diagrammatic technique, we study the Andreev transport properties of the device, focusing on the Andreev current cross-correlations, for various parameters of the model, both in the linear and nonlinear response regimes. Depending on parameters and transport regime, we find both positive and negative current cross-correlations. Enhancement of the former type of cross-correlations indicates transport regimes, in which the device works with high Cooper pair splitting efficiency, contrary to the latter type of correlations, which imply negative influence on the splitting. The processes and mechanisms leading to both types of current cross-correlations are thoroughly examined and discussed, giving a detailed insight into the Andreev transport properties of the considered device.

Correlated Coulomb Drag in Capacitively Coupled Quantum-Dot Structures

We study theoretically Coulomb drag in capacitively coupled quantum dots (CQDs)-a bias-driven dot coupled to an unbiased dot where transport is due to Coulomb mediated energy transfer drag. To this end, we introduce a master-equation approach that accounts for higher-order tunneling (cotunneling) processes as well as energy-dependent lead couplings, and identify a mesoscopic Coulomb drag mechanism driven by nonlocal multielectron cotunneling processes. Our theory establishes the conditions for a nonzero drag as well as the direction of the drag current in terms of microscopic system parameters. Interestingly, the direction of the drag current is not determined by the drive current, but by an interplay between the energy-dependent lead couplings. Studying the drag mechanism in a graphene-based CQD heterostructure, we show that the predictions of our theory are consistent with recent experiments on Coulomb drag in CQD systems.

Coupling Two Distant Double Quantum Dots with a Microwave Resonator

We fabricated a hybrid device with two distant graphene double quantum dots (DQDs) and a microwave resonator. A nonlinear response is observed in the resonator reflection amplitude when the two DQDs are jointly tuned to the vicinity of the degeneracy points. This observation can be well fitted by the Tavis-Cummings (T-C) model which describes two two-level systems coupling with one photonic field. Furthermore, the correlation between the DC currents in the two DQDs is studied. A nonzero cross-current correlation is observed which has been theoretically predicted to be an important sign of nonlocal coupling between two distant systems. Our results explore T-C physics in electronic transport and also contribute to the study of nonlocal transport and future implementations of remote electronic entanglement.

Thermoelectric energy harvesting with quantum dots

We review recent theoretical work on thermoelectric energy harvesting in multi-terminal quantum-dot setups. We first discuss several examples of nanoscale heat engines based on Coulomb-coupled conductors. In particular, we focus on quantum dots in the Coulomb-blockade regime, chaotic cavities and resonant tunneling through quantum dots and wells. We then turn toward quantum-dot heat engines that are driven by bosonic degrees of freedom such as phonons, magnons and microwave photons. These systems provide interesting connections to spin caloritronics and circuit quantum electrodynamics.

Realization of the SU(N) Kondo effect in a strong magnetic field

In this Letter we suggest a realization of the SU(N) Kondo effect, using quantum dots at strong magnetic field. We propose using edge states of the quantum Hall effect as pseudospin that interact with multiple quantum dots structures. In the suggested realization one can access each pseudospin separately and hence may perform a set of experiments that were impossible until now. We focus on the realization of SU(2) and SU(3) Kondo effects and find in the unitary limit a conductivity of 3/4 quantum conductance in the SU(3) case.

Tunneling effects on fine-structure splitting in quantum-dot molecules

We theoretically study the effects of bias-controlled interdot tunneling in vertically coupled quantum dots on the emission properties of spin excitons in various bias-controlled tunneling regimes. As a main result, we predict substantial reduction of optical fine-structure splitting without any drop in the optical oscillator strength for the coupled dots with high tunneling rates. This special reduction diminishes the distinguishability of polarized decay paths in cascade emission processes suggesting the use of stacked quantum-dot molecules as entangled photon-pair sources.

Mesoscopic Coulomb drag, broken detailed balance, and fluctuation relations

When a biased conductor is put in proximity with an unbiased conductor a drag current can be induced in the absence of detailed balance. This is known as the Coulomb drag effect. However, even in this situation far away from equilibrium where detailed balance is explicitly broken, theory predicts that fluctuation relations are satisfied. This surprising effect has, to date, not been confirmed experimentally. Here we propose a system consisting of a capacitively coupled double quantum dot where the nonlinear fluctuation relations are verified in the absence of detailed balance.

Shot noise properties of electron transport through an interacting multi-terminal quantum dots system

We study the correlations of tunneling currents through an interacting quantum dots (QDs) system composed of a top single QD and a bottom qubit with purely capacitive coupling within a quantum master approach. We find that the super-Poissonian current noise of the qubit near resonance, which is a signature of coherent tunneling within the transport qubit for asymmetrical contact couplings, is strongly dependent on non-equilibrium transport through the top QD with different coupling configurations. For pure-dephasing coupling, such a super-Poissonian feature is asymmetrically washed out by increasing coupling strength showing obvious qubit level position dependence with finite bias and temperature, while for orthogonal coupling we can almost symmetrically lower the double peak to a double minimum by increasing coupling strength or adjusting the ratio of the top QD contact couplings in the large bias limit, indicating the transition from coherent tunneling to sequential tunneling.

Cross correlation of incoherent multiple Andreev reflections

We use a semiclassical theory to calculate the current correlations in a multiterminal structure composed of a normal metallic dot connected to all superconducting leads at arbitrary voltage and temperature. This theory holds when the proximity effect is suppressed in the dot. At low voltage, eV<<Delta (Delta is the superconducting gap in the leads), when charge transport is due to incoherent multiple Andreev reflections, the correlations are strongly enhanced compared to those in the normal state. Moreover, we predict that the cross correlation can be positive or negative depending on the properties of the point contacts between the dot and the leads. We also discuss the effect of inelastic scattering in the dot.

Correlated electron tunneling through two separate quantum dot systems with strong capacitive interdot coupling

A system consisting of two independently contacted quantum dots with a strong electrostatic interaction shows an interdot Coulomb blockade when the dots are weakly tunnel coupled to their leads. How the blockade can be overcome by correlated tunneling when tunnel coupling to the leads increases is studied experimentally. The experimental results are compared with numerical renormalization group calculations using predefined (measured) parameters. Combining our experimental and theoretical results we identify transport through Kondo correlations due to the electrostatic interaction between the two dots.

N-particle scattering matrix for electrons interacting on a quantum dot

We present a nonperturbative expression for the scattering matrix of N particles interacting inside a quantum dot. Characterizing the dot by its resonances, we find a compact form for the scattering matrix in a real-time representation. We study the transmission probabilities and interaction-induced orbital entanglement of two electrons incident on the dot in a spin-singlet state.

Two-particle scattering matrix of two interacting mesoscopic conductors

We consider two quantum coherent conductors interacting weakly via long range Coulomb forces. We describe the interaction in terms of two-particle collisions described by a two-particle scattering matrix. As an example we determine the transmission probability and correlations in a two-particle scattering experiment and find that the results can be expressed in terms of the density-of-states matrices of the noninteracting scatterers.

Noise correlations in a Coulomb-blockaded quantum dot

We report measurements of current noise auto- and cross correlation in a tunable quantum dot with two or three leads. As the Coulomb blockade is lifted at finite source-drain bias, the autocorrelation evolves from super- to sub-Poissonian in the two-lead case, and the cross correlation evolves from positive to negative in the three-lead case, consistent with transport through multiple levels. Cross correlations in the three-lead dot are found to be proportional to the noise in excess of the Poissonian value in the limit of weak output tunneling.