Charge dynamics of a single donor coupled to a few-electron quantum dot in silicon (original) (raw)

Charge sensing of a few-donor double quantum dot in silicon

Applied Physics Letters, 2015

We demonstrate the charge sensing of a few-donor double quantum dot precision placed with atomic resolution scanning tunnelling microscope lithography. We show that a tunnel-coupled single electron transistor (SET) can be used to detect electron transitions on both dots as well as inter-dot transitions. We demonstrate that we can control the tunnel times of the second dot to the SET island by $4 orders of magnitude by detuning its energy with respect to the first dot. V

Single-electron quantization at room temperature in a-few-donor quantum dot in silicon nano-transistors

Applied Physics Letters, 2017

Quantum dots formed by donor-atoms in Si nanodevices can provide a breakthrough for functionality at the atomic level with one-by-one control of electrons. However, single-electron effects in donor-atom devices have only been observed at low temperatures mainly due to the low tunnel barriers. If a few donor-atoms are closely coupled as a molecule to form a quantum dot, the groundstate energy level is significantly deepened, leading to higher tunnel barriers. Here, we demonstrate that such an a-few-donor quantum dot, formed by selective conventional doping of phosphorus (P) donors in a Si nano-channel, sustains Coulomb blockade behavior even at room temperature. In this work, such a quantum dot is formed by 3 P-donors located near the center of the selectivelydoped area, which is consistent with a statistical analysis. This finding demonstrates practical conditions for atomic-and molecular-level electronics based on donor-atoms in silicon nanodevices.

Modelling single electron transfer in Si:P double quantum dots

Nanotechnology, 2005

Solid-state systems such as P donors in Si have considerable potential for realization of scalable quantum computation. Recent experimental work in this area has focused on implanted Si:P double quantum dots (DQDs) that represent a preliminary step towards the realization of single donor charge-based qubits. This paper focuses on the techniques involved in analyzing the charge transfer within such DQD devices and understanding the impact of fabrication parameters on this process. We show that misalignment between the buried dots and surface gates affects the charge transfer behavior and identify some of the challenges posed by reducing the size of the metallic dot to the few donor regime.

Single electron charging effects in semiconductor quantum dots

Zeitschrift f�r Physik B Condensed Matter, 1991

We have studied charging effects in a lateral split-gate quantum dot defined by metal gates in the two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) of a GaAs/AIGaAs heterostructure. The gate structure allows an independent control of the conductances of the two tunnel barriers separating the quantum dot from the two 2DEG leads, and enables us to vary the number of electrons that are localized in the dot. We have measured Coulomb oscillations in the conductance and the Coulomb staircase in current-voltage characteristics and studied their dependence on the conductances of the tunnel barriers. We show experimentally that at zero magnetic field charging effects start to affect the transport properties when both barrier conductances are smaller than the first quantized conductance value of a point contact at 2 e2/h. The experiments are described by a simple model in terms of electrochemical potentials, which includes both the discreteness of the electron charge and the quantum energy states due to confinement.

Electrostatically defined few-electron double quantum dot in silicon

Applied Physics Letters, 2009

A few-electron double quantum dot was fabricated using metal-oxide-semiconductor(MOS)-compatible technology and low-temperature transport measurements were performed to study the energy spectrum of the device. The double dot structure is electrically tunable, enabling the inter-dot coupling to be adjusted over a wide range, as observed in the charge stability diagram. Resonant single-electron tunneling through ground and excited states of the double dot was clearly observed in bias spectroscopy measurements.

Electrostically defined few-electron double quantum dot in silicon

2009

A few-electron double quantum dot was fabricated using metal-oxide-semiconductor(MOS)-compatible technology and low-temperature transport measurements were performed to study the energy spectrum of the device. The double dot structure is electrically tunable, enabling the inter-dot coupling to be adjusted over a wide range, as observed in the charge stability diagram. Resonant single-electron tunneling through ground and excited states of the double dot was clearly observed in bias spectroscopy measurements.

Stark tuning of the charge states of a two-donor molecule in silicon

Nanotechnology, 2011

Gate control of phosphorus donor based charge qubits in Si is investigated using a tight-binding approach. Excited molecular states of P2+ are found to impose limits on the allowed donor separations and operating gate voltages. The effects of surface (S) and barrier (B) gates are analyzed in various voltage regimes with respect to the quantum confined states of the whole device. Effects such as interface ionization, saturation of the tunnel coupling, sensitivity to donor and gate placement are also studied. It is found that realistic gate control is smooth for any donor separation, although at certain donor orientations the S and B gates may get switched in functionality. This paper outlines and analyzes the various issues that are of importance in practical control of such donor molecular systems.

Transport in split-gate silicon quantum dots

Superlattices and Microstructures, 2000

We report on the transport properties of novel Si quantum dot structures with controllable electron number through both top and side gates. Quantum dots were fabricated by a split-gate technique within a standard MOSFET process. Four-terminal dc electrical measurements were performed at 4.2 K in a liquid helium cryostat. Strong oscillations in the conductance through the dot are observed as a function of both the top gate bias and of the plunger bias. An overall monotonic and quasi-periodic movement of the peak conductance is observed which is believed to be associated with the bare level structure of the electronic states in the dot coupled with the Coulomb charging energy. Crossing behavior is observed as well, suggestive of either many-body effects or symmetry breaking of the dot states by the applied bias.

Voltage controlled exchange energies of a two-electron silicon double quantum dot with and without charge defects in the dielectric

Physical Review B, 2012

Quantum dots are artificial atoms used for a multitude of purposes. Charge defects are commonly present and can significantly perturb the designed energy spectrum and purpose of the dots. Voltage controlled exchange energy in silicon double quantum dots (DQD) represents a system that is very sensitive to charge position and is of interest for quantum computing. We calculate the energy spectrum of the silicon double quantum dot system using a full configuration interaction that uses tight binding single particle wavefunctions. This approach allows us to analyze atomic scale charge perturbations of the DQD while accounting for the details of the complex momentum space physics of silicon (i.e., valley and valley-orbit physics). We analyze how the energy levels and exchange curves for a DQD are affected by nearby charge defects at various positions relative to the dot, which are consistent with defects expected in the metal-oxide-semiconductor system.

Integration of Tunnel-Coupled Double Nanocrystalline Silicon Quantum Dots with a Multiple-Gate Single-Electron Transistor

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2007

We report on integration of double nanocrystalline silicon quantum dots (nc-Si QDs) of approximately 10 nm in diameter onto the multiple-gate single-electron transistor (SET) used as a highly-sensitive charge polarization detector. The SET with a single charging island is first patterned lithographically on silicon-on-insulator, and the multiple-gate bias dependence of the Coulomb current oscillation is characterized at 4.2 K. The coupling capacitance parameters between the SET charging island and the multiple-gate are estimated and compared with those obtained by using the three-dimensional capacitance simulation. Double nc-Si QDs are then deposited in the immediate vicinity of the charging island of the SET by using the very-high frequency plasma deposition technique. We perform the single-electron circuit simulations and demonstrate that only AEe charge polarization of the double QDs can be sensed as a shift of the Coulomb oscillation peaks.