  Using exact diagonalization we study the low energy Hilbert space of the
two-electron, two-quantum dot artificial molecule under a perpendicular
magnetic field. We show that electrons bind to vortices to induce several spin
transitions among ground states. Furthermore, the lowest excited states of
either even or odd vorticity mix, opening an anticrossing which protects the
quantum information stored in the spin states of the strongly correlated
quantum dot molecule.
