Paper detail

Fundamental differences between exciton and quantum dot duo

We present five major reasons why semiconductor exciton, that is, a correlated electron-hole pair in a bulk, quantum well, or quantum wire, is conceptually different from a pair in a quantum dot: (1) the origin of pair binding, (2) the interaction with additional carriers, (3) the quantum nature of the pair, (4) the coupling to photon, and (5) the photon-absorption mechanism. Due to these differences, we should refrain from calling an electron-hole pair in a quantum dot an exciton, as commonly done; we propose to call it a duo. Within the same frame of chamber musics, we likewise propose to call three and four carriers in a dot, a trio and a quatuor, instead of a trion and a biexciton.