Atomistic theory of electronic and optical properties of InAs/InP self-assembled quantum dots on patterned substrates

We report on an atomistic theory of electronic structure and optical properties of a single InAs quantum dot grown on InP patterned substrate. The spatial positioning of individual dots using InP nanotemplates results in a quantum dot embedded in InP pyramid. The strain distribution of a quantum dot in the InP pyramid is calculated using the continuum elasticity theory. The electron and valence hole single-particle states are calculated using an atomistic effective-bond-orbital model with second nearest-neighbor interactions, coupled to strain via the Bir-Pikus Hamiltonian. The optical properties are determined by solving the many-exciton Hamiltonian for interacting electron and hole complexes using the configuration-interaction method. The effect of positioning of quantum dots using a nanotemplate on their optical spectra is determined by a comparison with dots on unpatterned substrates, and with experimental results. The possibility of tuning the quantum dot properties with varying the nanotemplate is explored.