Apparent fractional charge signatures in PbTe quantum dots due to capacitively coupled charge trap dynamics
Abstract
We report the observation of fractional shifts in the experimental stability diagrams of PbTe nanowire quantum dots. Although this behavior may appear to suggest fractional charge transport, akin to that reported in the fractional quantum Hall regime, the quasi-one-dimensionality of the system and absence of an applied magnetic field indicate that the presence of fractional charges is highly unlikely. We instead attribute these effects to the presence of one or more spurious dots, or charge traps, capacitively coupled to the primary dot. Our findings illustrate how signatures of fractional charge transport may be replicated through trivial mesoscopic Coulombic effects.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Quantum and electron transport phenomena
Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties
Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Devices
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Low Temperature Physics
- Publisher
- AIP Publishing
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1023–1026
- Publication date
- 1 September 2026
- Language
- EN