title: Measuring temperature gradients over nanometer length scales.
abstract: When a quantum dot is subjected to a thermal gradient, the temperature of electrons entering the dot can be determined from the dot's thermocurrent if the conductance spectrum and background temperature are known. We demonstrate this technique by measuring the temperature difference across a 15 nm quantum dot embedded in a nanowire. This technique can be used when the dot's energy states are separated by many kT and will enable future quantitative investigations of electron-phonon interaction, nonlinear thermoelectric effects, and the efficiency of thermoelectric energy conversion in quantum dots.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403-1274, USA. ehoffma1@uoregon.edu
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Henrik A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Jason E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Natthapon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakpathomkun
authors.forename: Ann I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Samuelson
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linke