Carrier relaxation mechanisms in self-assembled (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots: Efficient P -> S Auger relaxation of electrons

Narvaez, Gustavo A.; Bester, Gabriel; Zunger, Alex

Carrier relaxation mechanisms in self-assembled (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots: Efficient P -> S Auger relaxation of electrons

Authors

Narvaez, Gustavo A.

Bester, Gabriel

Zunger, Alex

Description

We calculate the P-shell--to-S-shell decay lifetime τ(P->S) of electrons in lens-shaped self-assembled (In,Ga)As/GaAs dots due to Auger electron-hole scattering within an atomistic pseudopotential-based approach. We find that this relaxation mechanism leads to fast decay of τ(P->S)~1-7 ps for dots of different sizes. Our calculated Auger-type P-shell--to-S-shell decay lifetimes τ(P->S) compare well to data in (In,Ga)As/GaAs dots, showing that as long as holes are present there is no need for an alternative polaron mechanism.
Version published in Phys. Rev. B