Electronic correlations in transport through coupled quantum dots

Abstract

The conductance through two quantum dots in series is studied using general qualitative arguments and quantitative slave-boson mean-field theory. It is demonstrated that measurements of the conductance can explore the phase diagram of the two-impurity Anderson model. Competition between the Kondo effect and the inter-dot magnetic exchange leads to a two-plateau structure in the conductance as a function of gate voltage and a two or three peak structure in the conductance vs. inter-dot tunneling.