Density-functional approaches to interacting electrons in quantum dots
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Doctoral thesis (article-based)
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Author
Date
2003-10-10
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Mcode
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Language
en
Pages
42, [60]
Series
Dissertations / Laboratory of Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, 125
Abstract
Quantum dots are man-made nanoscale structures. As they show typical atomic properties they are often referred to as artificial atoms. The wave functions, shell structure, and energy levels are usually reminiscent of real atomic systems. A wide variety of geometries is possible by choosing appropriate materials and external confinement: one-dimensional rods, two-dimensional pancakes, or three-dimensional spheres. Since quantum dots are nanoscale systems, quantum mechanics is required for their accurate description. However, the electronic structure of these systems is very hard or even impossible to solve exactly even in the case of a few electrons, and approximations must be used. This thesis concentrates on electronic structure calculations of two-dimensional quantum dot systems, using the density-functional approach. The spin-density-functional theory (SDFT) and the current-spin-density-functional theory (CSDFT) are applied to study the ground-state properties of quantum dot systems in zero and finite magnetic fields. Especially the effects of complex electron-electron interactions are studied. Emphasis has also been set on developing and testing various methods and approximations. This is done by comparing the ground-state energy and other observables to those obtained using the variational quantum Monte Carlo method. The Kohn-Sham equations of the density-functional theories are solved in real-space by using the Rayleigh quotient multigrid method. This approach is compared to the traditional plane-wave solving methods. The systems under consideration in this work include single quantum dots with different confining potentials, double quantum dot 'hydrogen' molecule, and a superconductor-normal quantum dot-superconductor (SNS) structure. Symmetry-breaking solutions emerge in these calculations. These include spin-density-wave-like solutions, charge-density-wave-like solutions, Wigner molecule formation, and solutions with vortex structures. The structure and properties of these solutions have been calculated and the interpretation of the broken symmetry is discussed.Description
Keywords
spin-density-functional theory, current-spin-density-functional theory, density-functional approach, quantum dot
Other note
Parts
- Saarikoski H., Räsänen E., Siljamäki S., Harju A., Puska M. J. and Nieminen R. M., 2002. Electronic properties of model quantum-dot structures in zero and finite magnetic fields. The European Physical Journal B 26, pages 241-252. © 2002 EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag.
- Saarikoski H., Puska M. J. and Nieminen R. M., 2003. Electronic structure calculations for 2-D quantum dots and laterally coupled quantum dot molecules in magnetic fields. International Journal of Quantum Chemistry 91, No. 3, pages 490-497. © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Saarikoski H., Räsänen E., Siljamäki S., Harju A., Puska M. J. and Nieminen R. M., 2003. Testing of two-dimensional local approximations in the current-spin and spin-density-functional theories. Physical Review B 67, pages 205327 : 1-5. [article3.pdf] © 2003 American Physical Society. By permission.
- Räsänen E., Saarikoski H., Stavrou V. N., Harju A., Puska M. J. and Nieminen R. M., 2003. Electronic structure of rectangular quantum dots. Physical Review B 67, pages 235307 : 1-8. [article4.pdf] © 2003 American Physical Society. By permission.
- Räsänen E., Saarikoski H., Puska M. J. and Nieminen R. M., 2003. Wigner molecules in polygonal quantum dots: A density-functional study. Physical Review B 67, pages 035326 : 1-7. [article5.pdf] © 2003 American Physical Society. By permission.
- Engström K., Kinaret J., Shekhter R. I., Puska M. and Saarikoski H., 2003. Influence of electron-electron interactions on supercurrent in SNS structures. Low Temperature Physics (Fizika Nizkikh Temperatur) 29, No. 7, pages 546-550. © 2003 American Institute of Physics.
- Engström K., Kinaret J., Shekhter R. I., Saarikoski H. and Puska M., Interaction effects in superconductor-normal quantum dot-superconductor structures. Computational Materials Science, submitted for publication.
