Optical spectroscopy of semiconductor nanowire quantum dots

The project is to study the optical properties of nanowire quantum dots. These are a new type of quantum dot structure in which a quantum dot is formed in a semiconductor nanowire which is grown epitaxially on a silicon substrate. Unlike the much more studied self-assembled system nanowire quantum dots have a number of advantages including more control of their dimensions, the ability to position the nanowire via pre growth patterning of the substrate and direct incorporation in an optical cavity. Samples will be grown at UCL and structural studies will be performed at Warwick Physics. The student will study the optical properties via micro-photoluminescence which allows single nanowires to be probed. The aim will be to obtain a detailed knowledge of their electronic and optical properties, allowing optimisation for a number of applications including lasers and single photon sources.