Electron-phonon interaction and the so-called phonon bottleneck effect in semiconductor quantum dots

Abstract

Whether the phonon bottleneck effect, or slowed relaxation of electrons through phonon emission, in quantum dots is detrimental to their application as optical devices has been a matter of debate. We present a theoretical analysis of the bottleneck effect, based on a second-order perturbation calculation of the relaxation time and a Green's function calculation of the electron density of states. Emphasis will be put on multiple-phonon and coherence effects. A brief review of the relevant experiments is given in the second part of the paper.