Real-Time Observation of Charge States and Energy Relaxation in a Double Quantum Dot

We performed real-time observation of charge states in a double quantum dot (QD) by monitoring the current passing through an adjacent quantum point contact (QPC). The position of the QPC was chosen in such a way that the Coulomb coupling of the QPC to one QD is made stronger than to the other QD, so that the QPC current can clearly resolve the charge states of the double QD. With a response time of ∼200 µs, we also investigated the energy relaxation time T 1 of the double QD by applying rectangular voltage pulses to the double QD. We confirmed that T 1 can be made sufficiently longer than the response time of the QPC.