Physics and applications of self-assembled quantum dots

Linear and nonlinear spectroscopic invsetigations of self‐assembled quantum dots open up the possibility to study model quantum mechanical systems with potential applications in solid‐state based quantum information processing. In this article we review recent advances in our understanding of the physics of self‐assembled quantum dots and novel devices based upon them. We focus our attention on four key areas: (i) Investigations of individual quantum dots using photocurrent absorption spectoscopy (ii) The study of coupled pairs of electronically coupled quantum dots with field tunable coupling. (iii) Femtosecond experiments on small ensembles of quantum dots which demonstrate potential for quantum‐coherent operations and (iv) applications of quantum dots in novel devices for wavelength selective optical data storage. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)