Quantum Dot Version of Berry's Phase: Half-Integer Orbital Angular Momenta

Abstract

We show that Berry's geometrical (topological) phase for circular quantum dots with an odd number of electrons is equal to \pi and that eigenvalues of the orbital angular momentum run over half-integer values. The non-zero value of the Berry's phase is provided by axial symmetry and two-dimensionality of the system. Its particular value (\pi) is fixed by the Pauli exclusion principle. Our conclusions agree with the experimental results of T. Schmidt {\it at el}, \PR B {\bf 51}, 5570 (1995), which can be considered as the first experimental evidence for the existence of a new realization of Berry's phase and half-integer values of the orbital angular momentum in a system of an odd number of electrons in circular quantum dots.