Imaging a one-electron InAs quantum dot in an InAs/InP nanowire

Nanowire heterostructures define high-quality few-electron quantum dots for nanoelectronics, spintronics, and quantum information processing. We use a cooled scanning probe microscope (SPM) to image and control an InAs quantum dot in an InAs/InP nanowire using the tip as a movable gate. Images of dot conductance vs tip position at T=4.2 K show concentric rings as electrons are added, starting with the first electron. The SPM can locate a dot along a nanowire and individually tune its charge, abilities that will be very useful for the control of coupled nanowire dots.