Magnetic field switching in parallel quantum dots

Abstract

We show that the Coulomb blockade in parallel dots pierced by magnetic flux $Φ$ completely blocks the resonant current for any value of $Φ$ except for integer multiples of the flux quantum $Φ_0$. This non-analytic (switching) dependence of the current on $Φ$ arises only when the dot states that carry the current are of the same energy. The time needed to reach the steady state, however, diverges when $Φ\to nΦ_0$.

additional explanations added, Europhysics Letters, in press