Single-electron control of Wigner crystallization

Abstract

Wigner crystallization in mesoscopic quantum dots containing only few ($N<50$) electrons exhibits a number of interesting peculiarities: (i) there exist two distinct crystal phases, and (ii) the phase boundary sensitively depends on the precise particle number. In this paper we demonstrate that this behavior can be used to control the {\em collective} transport properties by adding or removing a {\em single electron}.

5 pages, two figures, uses Elsevier Latex style (included) Paper to appear in Microelectronic Engineering