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We evaluate analytically and numerically the density of states (DOS) and the heat capacity in a spherical quantum dot formed by a spherical thin barrier. The control of the spherical barrier thickness or the potential barrier height is found to cause the dimensional transition from the three-dimensional (3D) behavior to the quasi-zero dimensional (Q0D) behavior in the DOS and the heat capacity. When the barrier is thick enough, the DOS shows the Q0D-like behavior but when the barrier is thin enough to allow electrons to tunnel through it, the temperature dependence of the heat capacity exhibits quite a distinct behavior depending on the electron density. Explicit numerical plots are given in the low density regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present a theoretical study of the density of states (DOS) and the heat capacity in a spherical quantum dot formed by a spherical thin barrier. The control of the spherical barrier thickness or the potential barrier height is found to cause the dimensional transition from the three-dimensional (3D) behavior to the quasi-zero dimensional (Q0D) behavior in the DOS and the heat capacity. When the barrier is thick enough the DOS shows the Q0D-like behavior but when the barrier is thin enough to allow electrons to tunnel through it, the temperature dependence of the heat capacity exhibits quite distinct behavior depending on the electron density. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]