Giant Backscattering Magnetoresistance Resonance and Quantum Dot Electronic Structure

We self-consistently calculate in 3D the magnetic field dependent potential contour and semiclassical spectrum of a lateral quantum dot to analyze magnetotransport experiments. The spectrum differs dramatically from what had previously been assumed due to magnetically induced terraces in the potential. We show that a striking giant backscattering resonance in the data results from an increased Fermi level density of states associated with a terrace in the potential.