Tunneling plasmons in quantum-dot arrays

A tunneling plasmon in quantum-dot arrays is predicted to exhibit unusual properties. In a two-dimensional (2D) array with 1D tunneling, the tunneling plasmon displays very anisotropic wave-vector dispersion, and in the long-wavelength limit, it behaves similarly to a 2D plasmon. Contrary to plasmons in homogeneous electron gases, the tunneling plasmon in a quantum-dot array can have an energy which has an oscillatory dependence on electron density. These predictions can be verified by inelastic light-scattering experiments. The results shed some light on the controversy over the importance of interdot Coulomb coupling.