Magnetism in one-dimensional quantum dot arrays -: art. no. 165324

We employ the density functional Kohn-Sham method in the local spin-density approximation to study the electronic structure and magnetism of quasi-one-dimensional periodic arrays of few-electron quantum dots. At small values of the lattice constant, the single dots overlap, forming a nonmagnetic quantum wire with nearly homogenous density. As the confinement perpendicular to the wire is increased, i.e., as the wire is squeezed to become more one dimensional, it undergoes a spin-Peierls transition. Magnetism sets in as the quantum dots are placed farther apart. It is determined by the electronic shell filling of the individual quantum dots. At larger values of the lattice constant, the band structure for odd numbers of electrons per dot indicates that the array could support spin-polarized transport and therefore act as a spin filter.