Tero T. Heikkilä
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- December 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199592449
- eISBN:
- 9780191747618
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199592449.003.0007
- Subject:
- Physics, Condensed Matter Physics / Materials
This chapter discusses the phenomenon of Coulomb blockade, which takes place in small junctions. It first explains conditions of observing Coulomb blockade in single- or multiple junction systems and ...
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This chapter discusses the phenomenon of Coulomb blockade, which takes place in small junctions. It first explains conditions of observing Coulomb blockade in single- or multiple junction systems and then details the orthodox theory of single-electron tunnelling, which consists of calculating the tunnelling rates and using them in a master equation for the charge states. This theory allows understanding of the properties of a single-electron transistor. The higher-order cotunneling is explained briefly. The phenomenon of dynamical Coulomb blockade arising in single junctions placed in high-resistance environments is discussed in detail. The chapter closes by describing main single-electron devices besides the conventional single-electron transistor: Coulomb blockade thermometer, radio frequency single-electron transistor, and a single electron pump.Less
This chapter discusses the phenomenon of Coulomb blockade, which takes place in small junctions. It first explains conditions of observing Coulomb blockade in single- or multiple junction systems and then details the orthodox theory of single-electron tunnelling, which consists of calculating the tunnelling rates and using them in a master equation for the charge states. This theory allows understanding of the properties of a single-electron transistor. The higher-order cotunneling is explained briefly. The phenomenon of dynamical Coulomb blockade arising in single junctions placed in high-resistance environments is discussed in detail. The chapter closes by describing main single-electron devices besides the conventional single-electron transistor: Coulomb blockade thermometer, radio frequency single-electron transistor, and a single electron pump.
