Quantum phases in artificial molecules

The few-particle state of carriers confined in a quantum dot is controlled by the balance between their kinetic energy and their Coulomb correlation. In coupled quantum dots, both can be tuned by varying the inter-dot tunneling and interactions. Using a theoretical approach based on the diagonalization of the exact Hamiltonian, we show that the transitions between different quantum phases can be induced through the inter-dot coupling both for a system of few electrons (or holes) and for aggregates of electrons and holes. We discuss their manifestations, in addition energy spectra (accessible through capacitance or transport experiments) and optical spectra.