Quantum interference effects in multi-channel correlated tunneling structures

Abstract

Abstract In multi-channel tunneling systems quantum interference effects modify tunneling conductance spectra due to Fano effect. We investigated the impact of Hubbard type Coulomb interaction on tunneling conductance spectra for the system formed by several interacting impurity atoms or quantum dots localised between the contact leads. It was shown that the Fano shape of tunneling conductance spectra strongly changes in the presence of on-site Coulomb interaction between localised electrons in the intermediate system. The main effect which determines the shape of the tunneling peaks could be not Fano interference but mostly nonequilibrium dependence of the occupation numbers on bias voltage.