Flat Thomas-Fermi artificial atoms

Abstract

We consider two-dimensional (2D) "artificial atoms" confined by an axially symmetric potential $V(\rho)$. Such configurations arise in circular quantum dots and other systems effectively restricted to a 2D layer. Using the semiclassical method, we present the first fully self-consistent and analytic solution yielding equations describing the density distribution, energy, and other quantities for any form of $V(\rho)$ and an arbitrary number of confined particles. An essential and nontrivial aspect of the problem is that the 2D density of states must be properly combined with 3D electrostatics. The solution turns out to have a universal form, with scaling parameters $\rho^2/R^2$ and $R/a_B^*$ ($R$ is the dot radius and $a_B^*$ is the effective Bohr radius).