Phonon-assisted relaxation and tunneling in self-assembled quantum dot molecules

Krzysztof Gawarecki, Michał Pochwała, Anna Grodecka–Grad, and Paweł Machnikowski
Phys. Rev. B 81, 245312 – Published 14 June 2010

Abstract

We study theoretically phonon-assisted relaxation processes in a system consisting of one or two electrons confined in two vertically stacked self-assembled quantum dots. The calculation is based on a kp approximation for single-particle wave functions in a strained self-assembled structure. From these, two-particle states are calculated by including the Coulomb interaction and the transition rates between the lowest-energy eigenstates are derived. We take into account phonon couplings via deformation potential and piezoelectric interaction and show that they both can play a dominant role in different parameter regimes. Within the Fermi golden rule approximation, we calculate the relaxation rates between the lowest-energy eigenstates which lead to thermalization on a picosecond time scale in a narrow range of dot sizes.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
3 More
  • Received 19 March 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.245312

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Krzysztof Gawarecki1, Michał Pochwała2, Anna Grodecka–Grad3, and Paweł Machnikowski1,*

  • 1Institute of Physics, Wrocław University of Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
  • 2Department Physik, Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften and CeOPP, Universität Paderborn, Warburger Straße 100, D-33098 Paderborn, Germany
  • 3QUANTOP, Danish National Research Foundation Center for Quantum Optics, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

  • *pawel.machnikowski@pwr.wroc.pl

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 81, Iss. 24 — 15 June 2010

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×