Regensburg 2002 – scientific programme

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HL: Halbleiterphysik

HL 28: Quantenpunkte und -dr
ähte: Herstellung und Charakterisierung

HL 28.2: Talk

Wednesday, March 13, 2002, 14:45–15:00, H17

Electronic structure of three-dimensional quantum dots — •T. Vorrath¹ and R. Blümel² — ¹I. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Jungiusstr. 9, 20355 Hamburg — ²Department of Physics, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459-0155, USA

We study the electronic structure of three-dimensional quantum dots using the Hartree-Fock approximation. The confining potential of the electrons in the quantum dot is assumed to be spatially isotropic and harmonic. For up to 40 interacting electrons we have calculated the ground state energies and wavefunctions from which the electron densities and the quadrupole moments are derived. Hund’s rule is confirmed and a shell structure can be identified.
This model for 3D quantum dots corresponds to Thomson’s model for the atom from 1904 [1]. There, the positive charge of the atom was assumed to be homogeneously distributed over the whole atom creating a harmonic potential in which the electrons move. Hence, 3D quantum dots can be regarded as Thomson atoms. Other realizations of Thomson atoms include electrons in clusters of metals and ions in a Paul trap [2].

[1] J. J. Thomson, Phil. Mag. VII, 237 (1904).

[2] T. Vorrath, R. Blümel, Phyisk in unserer Zeit 31, 115 (2000).