Prediction of size disorder induced resonant tunneling in large scale nanodot arrays

Abstract We have successfully investigated the effect of size fluctuation on the resonant tunneling characteristics of nanodots arrays. The approach was realized with taking into account the induced electron energy level disorder under the framework of the generalized Breit–Wigner formula. It is found that the dot size fluctuation has played an important role in both the tunneling current profile and number of the resonant peaks. By the aid of the statistical concept to characterize the size fluctuation in large scale nanodots systems, we have shown a clear picture for the dependence of the resonant peak number and peak to valley ratio on the degree of disorder and spatial configuration in the nanodots. The whole investigation will give a general prediction of the origin of resonant tunneling phenomena observed in large scale nanodot systems. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)