Charge and spin dynamics in interacting quantum dots

The transient response of a quantum dot with strong Coulomb interaction to a fast change in the gate potential, as well as the stationary ac response to a slow harmonic variation in the gate potential are computed by means of a real-time diagrammatic expansion in the tunnel-coupling strength. We find that after a fast switching, the exponential relaxation behavior of charge and spin are governed by a single time constant each, which differ from each other due to Coulomb repulsion. We compare the response to a step potential with the RC time extracted from the ac response.