Signatures of the discrete level spectrum in temperature-dependent transport through open quantum-dot arrays

Temperature-dependent studies of the resistance of open quantum-dot arrays reveal a regime of intermediate temperature (∼1–5 K), over which the resistance increases exponentially with decreasing temperature. In this Brief Report, we explore the origins of this unexpected localization by studying its correlation to the temperature-dependent variation of the magnetoconductance. Based on these studies, we suggest that the exponential regime corresponds to that over which we transition from strongly broadened to energetically resolved levels in the dots. In order to provide further support for this interpretation, we perform numerical studies of temperature-dependent transport through the quantum dots, and discuss the role that many-body effects may play in giving rise to the behavior found in experiment.