Theory of phase-sensitive measurement of photon-assisted tunneling through a quantum dot

Recent double-slit interference experiments [Schuster et al., Nature (London) 385, 417 (1997)] have demonstrated the possibility of probing the phase of the complex transmission coefficient of a quantum dot via the Aharonov-Bohm effect. We propose an extension of these experiments: an ac voltage imposed on the side gate with the concomitant photonic sidebands leads to additional structure both in the amplitude and in the phase of the Aharonov-Bohm signal. Observation of these effects would be a definitive proof of coherent absorption and reemission of photons from the ac source. [S0163-1829(98)08736-0].