Overview

The Max Planck Research Group (Max Planck Forschergruppe) Theory of semiconductor nanostructures (Bester) investigates the quantum mechanical properties of matter under confinement. Of particular interest are semiconductor structures with dimensions between 1 and 50 nanometers. Carriers trapped within such structures exhibit strong quantum mechanical effects that are of fundamental interest to understand the properties of matter. Moreover, their unique properties can be exploited in the realm of nanotechnology. Our task is to develop theoretical concepts, implement them into computational methods and interpret experimental results; or provide genuine predictions. Our theoretical description is based on ab-initio methods, where we describe the nanostructures atom by atom. This atomistic description allows us to accurately describe colloidal semiconductor clusters, made of a few hundred atoms, all the way to epitaxial quantum dots made of millions of atoms. Our calculations of correlated many-body wave functions lead to accurate optical properties. These are relevant in the modern fields of quantum information science and solid-state quantum optics.

Logo on the top left: State density of the bonding electron state of two vertically stacked self-assembled InGaAs quantum dots (quantum dot molecule) calculated with the atomistic empirical pseudopotential method. The quantum dots have the shape of truncated cones with 25 nm diameter and are separated by 5 nm. The two translucent red isosurfaces enclose 75% and 40% of the total state density. The physical dot dimensions are shown in blue.