Multi-peak negative differential resistance device consisting of multiple quantum dots sandwiched between two metallic electrodes

We investigate tunneling current through a set of coupled quantum dots at finite temperature. We found that the multi-peak negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior can be generated by manipulating the tunneling current though the multiple quantum dots. Such an NDR effect is suppressed by the temperature. It is shown that for a three-dot case, a large peak-to-valley ratio of tunneling current exists in the condition of dot A with symmetrical tunneling rates and dot B and dot C with the shell-filling tunneling rate ratios.