Triplet-singlet relaxation in semiconductor single and double quantum dots

Abstract

We study the triplet-singlet relaxation in two-electron semiconductor quantum dots. Both single dots and vertically coupled double dots are discussed. In our work, the electron-electron Coulomb interaction, which plays an important role in the electronic structure, is included. The spin mixing is caused by spin-orbit coupling which is the key to the triplet-singlet relaxation. We show that the selection rule widely used in the literature is incorrect unless near the crossing and/or anticrossing point in single quantum dots. The triplet-singlet relaxation in double quantum dots can be markedly changed by varying barrier height, interdot distance, external magnetic field, and dot size.