Investigation of the Electron Energy Spectrum in a Three Dimensional Regimented Tetragonal Quantum Dot Superlattice

Abstract

We analyze the electron energy spectrum in three-dimensional regimented arrays of semiconductor quantum dots. The coupling among quantum dots results in formation of threedimensional electron mini-bands. Changing the size of quantum dots, inter-dot distance, barrier height and regimentation, one can control the electronic band structure of this quantum dot superlattice, which can also be referred to as quantum dot crystal due to its structure and energy spectrum that resemble those of a real crystal. Results of computer simulations carried out for a tetragonal InAs/GaAs quantum dot superlattice show that the electron density of states, effective mass tensor and other properties are different from those of bulk and conventional quantum well superlattices.