Electronic correlations in transport through coupled quantum dots

The conductance through two quantum dots in series is studied using general qualitative arguments and quantitative slave-boson mean-field theory. It i s demonstrated that measurements of the conductance can explore the phase d iagram of the two-impurity Anderson model. Competition between the Kondo ef fect and the interdot magnetic exchange leads to a two-plateau structure il l the conductance as a function to the gate voltage and a two or three peak structure in the conductance versus interdot tunneling.