High-field magneto-photoluminescence of semiconductor nanostructures

Abstract

We review the photoluminescence of semiconductor nanostructures in high magnetic fields, concentrating on the effects of the applied magnetic field on orbital motion (wave function extent), which is probed in experiments on large ensembles. We present an overview of the physics of excitons in high magnetic fields in 3- and 2-D before introducing the zero-dimensional case. We then discuss the physics of quantum-dot excitons in high magnetic fields with particular attention to the approximate analytical models used to interpret experimental results. This is followed by a brief description of a typical high-field magneto-photoluminescence setup. We then present four examples of magneto-photoluminescence experiments on different materials systems chosen from our own research to illustrate how high magnetic fields can be used to reveal new insights into the physics of semiconductor nanostructures.