Molecular phases in coupled quantum dots

Abstract

We present excitation energy spectra of few-electron vertically coupled quantum dots for strong and intermediate interdot coupling. By applying a magnetic field, we induce ground state transitions and identify the corresponding quantum numbers by comparison with few-body calculations. In addition to atomiclike states, we find novel ``molecularlike'' phases. The isospin index characterizes the nature of the bond of the artificial molecule and this we control. Like spin in a single quantum dot, transitions in isospin leading to full polarization are observed with increasing magnetic field.