Single-electron quantum dot in Si/SiGe with integrated charge sensing

Single-electron occupation is an essential component to the measurement and manipulation of spin in quantum dots, capabilities that are important for quantum information processing. Si/SiGe is of interest for semiconductor spin qubits, but single-electron quantum dots have not yet been achieved in this system. We report the fabrication and measurement of a top-gated quantum dot occupied by a single electron in a Si/SiGe heterostructure. Transport through the quantum dot is directly correlated with charge sensing from an integrated quantum point contact, and this charge sensing is used to confirm single-electron occupancy in the quantum dot. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.