Control of electron correlations in a spherical quantum dot

Spherical quantum dots containing several electrons are considered for different values of the total spin. Numerical calculations are carried out using the quantum path-integral Monte Carlo method. The dependence of the electron correlations on the dimensionless control quantum parameter q associated with the steepness of the confinement potential is studied. The quantum transition from a Wigner crystal-like state (i.e., from the regime of strongly correlated electrons) to a Fermi-liquid state (“cold” melting) driven by the parameter q is studied in detail. The behavior of the radial and pair correlation functions, which characterize quantum delocalization of the electrons, is considered.