Few-electron systems in a quantum dot in a magnetic field: the Wigner molecule and paired electron phases

We have developed a variational many-body description for few-electron systems in a parabolic quantum dot in an external magnetic field. The ground state energy of the electronic system has been theoretically investigated in a broad range of magnetic fields. The possibility of existence of a spin-singlet paired state in a QD in an external magnetic field is discussed. Analytical expressions for the spin-singlet phase and for the Wigner phase in a QD have been obtained and studied as a function of the magnetic field and QD confinement. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)