NONLINEAR ELECTRON TRANSPORT THROUGH DOUBLE QUANTUM DOTS COUPLED TO CONFINED PHONONS

Abstract

The non-linear electron current through a double quantum dot embedded in a free standing quantum well is investigated. In such a model for a nano-size phonon cavity, the transport at low temperatures is mediated by the spontaneous emission of acoustic phonons. Phonon quantum size effects can be detected as steps in the current. Moreover, for our model we find van-Hove singularities in the phonon density of states that give rise to a strong, tuneable increase of phonon emission into characteristic modes. The emission characteristic, depending on the position of the dots in the cavity, is also considered.