This is an overview of different models and mechanisms developed to describe the capture and relaxation of carriers in quantum-dot systems. Despite their undisputed importance, the mechanisms leading to population and energy exchanges between a quantum dot and its environment are not yet fully understood. The authors develop a first-order approach to such effects, using elementary quantum mechanics and an introduction to the physics of semiconductors. The book results from a series of lectures given by the authors at the master's level.

Robson Ferreira received a PhD from the Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6) University in 1992. He is presently Directeur de Recherche at the French Council for Research (CNRS), working on the electronic states and optical properties of low dimensional materials and heterostructures. He has additionally been involved with teaching, lecturing for many years on semiconductor materials and their nanostructures (Master programs at Paris 6 University and Ecole Normale Supérieure -Paris).

Table of Contents: 1. Electronic states in self assembled semiconductor quantum dots / 2. Capture of carriers by the quantum dots / 3. Energy relaxation of confined carriers in self assembled quantum dots