Quantum dots and artificial atoms

John H. Jefferson, Wolfgang Häusler

Published 1997-05-01Version 1

The electronic properties of nanoscale quantum dots are reviewed. The similarities and differences between these `artificial atoms' and real atoms are discussed and, in particular, the effect of electron correlations is examined. It is shown that for (semiconductor) quantum dots, with only a few electrons, electron correlations can give rise to important new physics which is absent in their true atomic counterparts.