Link between shape dependent lifetimes and thermal escape in quantum dots and rings

Understanding the optical emission characteristics of semiconductor nanostructures is important when determining their device applicability. Their emission depends on the material and its geometry, but also depends on other processes such as thermal escape from the nanostructure. Although it is widely accepted that scattering involving longitudinal optical phonons is the key process in thermal escape, it remains unclear why some quantum structures thermally emit excitons while others emit uncorrelated electron-hole pairs or single charge carriers. To investigate this phenomenon, we theoretically determine the energy levels and temperature- lifetime relationships of quantum dots and rings. We find that replicating the observed temperature dependence of the exciton lifetime requires both an eigenspectrum and a thermal escape mechanism which are geometry dependent. This suggests that geometry may be a significant factor in determining the dominant thermal escape process in quantum structures.