Quantum dot infrared photodetectors: Interdot coupling

Abstract

We report on our study of the effects of interdot coupling on the properties of quantum dot infrared photodetectors. The main effect we address here is the splitting of the optical absorption of coupled quantum dots due to electron hopping between the dots. The splitting depends on the size of the dots and the interdot distance and it can be observed only for small dots, less than 20 nm. The system is studied numerically within the effective mass approximation. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.