Qdots

Quantum Dots:

Designing building blocks for next-generation photonics

The nanometre-sized pyramids of Indium Arsenide (InAs) that form during the interrupted growth of InAs on a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) substrate are attractive to electrons, trapping any that enter and quantizing their motion in the process. Electrons confined to these quantum dots exhibit an atomic-like spectrum of energies which depends greatly on the dot size and composition. Quantum dots are sometimes referred to as "designer atoms" because of the way their electronic and optical properties can be tailored. Figure 1 below shows an InAs quantum dot.

New Castle Univ
http://cmt.phys.ncl.ac.uk/
http://www.qcadesigner.ca/