Probing Energy Spectrum of Quadruple Quantum Dots with Microwave Field

A double quantum dot defines a qubit by a two-level system. The coupling between two qubits induces a double two-level system into a four-level system. We study experimentally the coupling between two capacitive coupled GaAs/AlGaAs double quantum dots while tuning the energy detuning of each double quantum dot simultaneously. Applying microwave photons (at a frequency of 20 GHz) on this system and observing the resonance tunneling with a quantum point contact detector, we obtain an excitation spectrum which is consistent with the numerical simulation result of a coupled two-qubit Hamiltonian. This study demonstrates that a double quantum dot can be exploited as an extraordinary platform for controlled quantum gates.