Few-electron systems confined in quasi-one-dimensional quantum dots are studied by the configuration interaction approach. We consider the parity symmetry of states forming Wigner molecules in large quantum dots and find that for the spin-polarized Wigner molecules it strictly depends on the number of electrons. We investigate the spatial spin ordering in the inner coordinates of the quantum sy...

Strong confinement of charges in few-electron systems such as in atoms, molecules, and quantum dots leads to a spectrum of discrete energy levels often shared by several degenerate states. Because the electronic structure is key to understanding their chemical properties, methods that probe these energy levels in situ are important. We show how electrostatic force detection using atomic force m...

We report results of both strain-driven surface segregation of indium from InGaAs thin films as well as selective area epitaxy of InAs quantum dots using these films. InAs segregation from an underlying InGaAs film allows for preferential growth of quantum dots when additional InAs is deposited. By using standard lithography techniques, a two-step selective growth process for quantum dots is ac...

Recent advances in nanomaterials have produced a new class of fluorescent labels by conjugating semiconductor quantum dots with biorecognition molecules. These nanometer-sized conjugates are water-soluble and biocompatible, and provide important advantages over organic dyes and lanthanide probes. In particular, the emission wavelength of quantum-dot nanocrystals can be continuously tuned by cha...

Magnetic semiconductor quantum dots with a few carriers represent an interesting model system where ferromagnetic interactions can be tuned by voltage. By designing the geometry of a doped quantum dot, one can tailor the anisotropic quantum states of magnetic polarons. The strong anisotropy of magnetic polaron states in disklike quantum dots with holes comes from the spin splitting in the valen...

We define two laterally gated small quantum dots (∼ 15 electrons) in an Aharonov-Bohm geometry in which the coupling between the two dots can be broadly changed. For weakly coupled quantum dots we find Aharonov-Bohm oscillations. In an intermediate coupling regime we concentrate on the molecular states of the double dot and extract the magnetic field dependence of the coherent coupling.

The spontaneous-emission lifetime of CdSe/CdS core-shell quantum dots was studied as a function of the distance between the dots and a polished Si surface. The experimental results reveal a significant modification of the spontaneous-emission rate of the quantum dots by the Si surface.

Introduction: It has been predicted that the threshold current density of quantum dot lasers should be lower than that of quantum well lasers due to the reduction of density of states [1]. In particular, efforts have been made in the past few years to reduce the threshold current density of quantum dot lasers on GaAs substrates [2, 3]. A recently developed approach is to put the InAs dots in a ...

Lateral coupling between separate quantum dots has been observed in a system of In0.55Al0.45As self-assembled quantum dots. The experiment was performed by taking photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra in the optical near-field at 4.2 K. The high spatial resolution afforded by the near-field technique allows us to resolve individual dots in a density regime where interactions between neighb...

In order to couple high cellular uptake and target specificity of dendrimer molecule with excellent optical properties of semiconductor nanoparticles, the interaction of cysteine-capped CdTe quantum dots with dendrimer was investigated through spectroscopic techniques. NH(2)-terminated dendrimer molecule quenched the photoluminescence of CdTe quantum dots. The binding constants and binding capa...