Kondo effect in coupled quantum dots with RKKY interaction: Effects of finite temperature and magnetic field

We study transport through two quantum dots coupled by a Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida interaction as a function of temperature and magnetic field. By applying the numerical renormalization group method, we obtain the transmission and the linear conductance. At zero temperature and magnetic field, we observe a quantum phase transition between the Kondo screened state and a local spin singlet as the RKKY interaction is tuned. Above the critical RKKY coupling, the Kondo peak is split. However, we find that both finite temperature and magnetic field restore the Kondo resonance. Our results agree well with recent transport experiments on gold grain quantum dots in the presence of magnetic impurities [H. B. Heersche , Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 017205 (2006)].