Discrete charging of a quantum dot strongly coupled to external leads

We examine a quantum dot with N-dot levels which is strongly coupled to leads for varying number of channels N in the leads. It is shown both analytically and numerically that for strong couplings between the dot and the leads, at least N-dot-N bound states (akin to subradiant states in optics) remain on the dot. These bound states exhibit discrete charging and, for a significant range of charging energies, strong Coulomb blockade behavior as a function of the chemical potential. The physics changes for large charging energy, where the same (superradiant) state is repeatedly charged.