= Coulomb blockade
{wiki=Coulomb_blockade}
Coulomb blockade is a quantum mechanical phenomenon that occurs in small conductive structures, such as small metal or semiconductor particles (quantum dots) or single-electron transistors. It is characterized by the suppression of electrical conduction due to the electrostatic repulsion between charged particles—specifically, electrons. In a typical scenario, when an electron is added to a small conductor, it experiences a Coulomb energy barrier due to the presence of other electrons already in the conductor.
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