Self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots

Quantum dots are nanometre-sized clusters of semiconductor material which confine electrons in all three directions. The physics of quantum dots are dominated by quantization: there are discrete energy levels, as in real atoms. Quantum dots can now be self-assembled directly in the growth of inorganic semiconductors, and this discovery has fuelled an explosion in the interest in this field. A review of some of this work is presented, concentrating on the optical properties of quantum dots, and possible applications for photonic devices.