Quantum dots and quantum wires

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the potential application of quantum dots and quantum wires to various solid state devices. Applications include enhancing the performance of existing devices (e.g., semiconductor lasers based on quantum dot active layers), the creation of materials with exotic optical nonlinearities, the development of novel processor architectures based on cellular automata, and new concepts concerning the generation of synthetic dopants. In the quantum well hierarchy that has emerged over the last decade (i.e., quantum wells, wires and dots), quantum dots are the extreme quasi zero-dimensional case. They are, in a sense, large man-made atoms (100–200 A in diameter). An ideal quantum wire, on the other hand, is the electrical analog of a single mode optical fiber.