Origins of optical anisotropy in artificial atoms

Abstract

The author report on a theoretical study of optical anisotropy in quantum dots. The mechanisms how shape anisotropy and strain field lead to optical anisotropy are identified by an empirical tight-binding approach. The anisotropic structure of quantum dots is shown to impose stronger confinement for the localized p orbitals aligning along the short axis. In self-assembled quantum dots, these orbitals are also seen in a higher potential produced by the strain field. As a result, the valence-band electrons prefer to occupy the orbitals aligning along the long axis, which leads to stronger optical emission polarized along that direction. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.