This volume is concerned with the crystal growth, optical properties, and optical device application of the self-formed quantum dot, which is one of the major current subjects in the semiconductor research field.The atom-like density of states in quantum dots is expected to drastically improve semiconductor laser performance, and to develop new optical devices. However, since the first theoretical prediction for its great possibilities was presented in 1982, due to the difficulty of their fabrication process. Recently, the advent of self-organized quantum dots has made it possible to apply the results in important optical devices, and further progress is expected in the near future.The authors, working for Fujitsu Laboratories, are leading this quantum-dot research field. In this volume, they describe the state of the art in the entire field, with particular emphasis on practical applications.

This multidisciplinary book provides up-to-date coverage of carrier and spin dynamics and energy transfer and structural interaction among nanostructures. Coverage also includes current device applications such as quantum dot lasers and detectors, as well as future applications to quantum information processing. The book will serve as a reference for anyone working with or planning to work with quantum dots.

This volume is concerned with the crystal growth, optical properties, and optical device application of the self-formed quantum dot, which is one of the major current subjects in the semiconductor research field. The atom-like density of states in quantum dots is expected to drastically improve semiconductor laser performance, and to develop new optical devices. However, since the first theoretical prediction for its great possibilities was presented in 1982, due to the difficulty of their fabrication process. Recently, the advent of self-organized quantum dots has made it possible to apply the results in important optical devices, and further progress is expected in the near future. The authors, working for Fujitsu Laboratories, are leading this quantum-dot research field. In this volume, they describe the state of the art in the entire field, with particular emphasis on practical applications.

This thesis describes experiments on the initialisation, coherent control, and readout of a single hole spin trapped in a self assembled InGaAs semiconductor quantum dot. High fidelity initialisation of a hole spin state is achieved by the fast ionisation of a spin polarised neutral exciton under an applied electric field and in a Faraday geometry magnetic field. The preparation of a coherent superposition state is demonstrated by observing the precession of the hole spin about a Voigt geometry magnetic field. The hole spin dephasing time is deduced from the decay of the spin contrast. Coherent optical rotation of the hole spin state about the z-axis is demonstrated using the geometric phase shift induced by a picosecond laser pulse. By combining the precession of the spin about the x-axis, and optical rotations about the z-axis, full quantum control of a hole spin is demonstrated over the surface of the Bloch sphere. This is an important prerequisite for the use of a hole spin as a qubit for quantum information processing applications.

A comprehensive review of cutting-edge solid state research, focusing on quantum dot nanostructures, for graduate students and researchers.

This is an overview of different models and mechanisms developed to describe the capture and relaxation of carriers in quantum-dot systems. Despite their undisputed importance, the mechanisms leading to population and energy exchanges between a quantum dot and its environment are not yet fully understood. The authors develop a first-order approach to such effects, using elementary quantum mechanics and an introduction to the physics of semiconductors. The book results from a series of lectures given by the authors at the Master’s level.