Coulomb-coupled quantum-dot thermometers
A novel design concept that Coulomb-coupled quantum dots can be used as quantum probes to determine the temperature of a sample (i.e., an electronic reservoir) is proposed. Through the regulation of the positive or negative voltage bias in the thermometer, we are able to judge whether the temperature of the sample is higher or lower than that of the reference heat reservoir in the measure environment and to determine the precise temperature of the sample by using a particularly simple temperature-voltage bias relationship in the reversible condition. One outstanding characteristic of the thermometer is that when the sample is at low temperatures, a small temperature change will lead to a large voltage bias change. It means that the proposed thermometer has a high sensitivity when low-temperature samples are measured.