Growth and spectroscopy of semiconductor quantum rings

Wen Lei, A. Lorke

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paperChapterpeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014. Quantum rings are unique nanostructures as they are topologically not simply connected and therefore different from most other low-dimensional systems such as quantum dots, quantum wires or quantum wells. This topology gives rise to an intriguing energy structure, in particular, when a magnetic field is applied such that a flux can penetrate through the ring’s interior. Flux quantization will lead to a ground state, which has a non-vanishing angular momentum, and the intraband transitions are affected by the corresponding change in dipole-allowed transitions. Quantum rings, which are of the order of 10 nm in size are of particular interest, because they make it possible to study these systems in the true quantum limit. In this chapter, we will review the growth techniques, which lead to the selforganized formation of quantum rings of a few tens of nanometers in diameter. The mechanisms will be discussed, which ‘invert’ the geometry of InAs islands, grown in the Stranski-Krastanov mode on GaAs, when they are partially capped with GaAs. When the thus formed nanorings are embedded in a suitable heterostructure, they can be electrically tuned and carriers can be injected with single-electron/single-hole precision. We will discuss, how the number of carriers and the strength of the applied field influence the single-particle and many-particle ground states, which can be probed by capacitance-voltage measurements. Also, far-infrared absorption spectra will be presented, which show the influence of flux quantization on the intraband transitions. These spectroscopic techniques, together with photoluminescence data obtained on single rings as well as on ring ensembles, make it possible to obtain an in-depth view into the detailed energetic structure of nanoscopic rings.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationNanoScience and Technology
    EditorsVladimir M. Fomin
    Place of PublicationGermany
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages27-59
    Volume87
    ISBN (Print)9783642391972
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014

    Publication series

    NamePhysics of Quantum Rings

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