Discrete quantum levels and Zeeman splitting in ultra-thin gold-nanowire quantum dots

We fabricate ultrathin gold nanowires (AuNWs) by means of a wet-chemical synthesis involving a reduction reaction. Our low-temperature transport measurements reveal the presence of the Coulomb-blockade effect and the formation of discrete quantum levels in an individual AuNW. We also observe the Zeeman splitting of the quantum levels in AuNW quantum dots under the application of magnetic fields via single-electron transport measurements using excitation spectroscopy. Our experimental results indicate that spin-orbit coupling strongly suppresses the estimated g -factor.