Probability of photon emission from quantum dot

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the probability of photon emission from a quantum dot after it absorbs a photon of a specific wavelength. Participants explore the theoretical framework and potential distributions of emitted wavelengths, particularly focusing on the conditions under which these probabilities are defined.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a formula for the probability distribution of emitted photon wavelengths from a quantum dot, noting that if the emitted wavelength is less than the absorbed wavelength, the probability is zero.
  • Another participant suggests applying the Franck-Condon principle, although they express uncertainty about its applicability to semiconductors.
  • A participant proposes a two-level system model with a Lorentzian lineshape for the energy distribution of emitted photons, while acknowledging that real quantum dots may complicate this model due to conservation rules.
  • Some participants assert that the distribution of emitted wavelengths should be Lorentzian, while others challenge this by pointing out that real quantum dot emission spectra may not conform to this model.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of the distribution, with one participant suggesting that the spectra could be Gaussian, while another notes that they can appear asymmetric and may not fit neatly into either category.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of analyzing the spectrum as a function of frequency rather than wavelength, suggesting that this could clarify the nature of the distributions being discussed.
  • Another participant introduces the concept of Fourier transforms in relation to the spectrum, explaining how the form of the spectrum can differ when expressed in terms of wavelength versus frequency.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of the probability distribution for emitted wavelengths, with some advocating for a Lorentzian distribution and others suggesting Gaussian characteristics or questioning the appropriateness of these models. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact form of the distribution and the factors influencing it.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the complexity of the problem may arise from various factors, including the specifics of the quantum dot's material properties and the conservation laws that apply. There is also mention of the need for a deeper understanding of solid-state physics to fully address the nuances of the emission spectra.

shirashi
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Hi guys, I am looking for a formula which I am sure exits but I cannot locate it. The problem is that a quantum dot absorbs a photon of wavelength λ0(dot is semiconductor or could be any other material). Assuming that it reemits a photon, what is the probability that this emitted photon will have a wavelength λ. Of course if λ<λ0 then the probability is zero, but what kind of distribution does it have for λ>λ0 ?

I am sure this is a very standard problem and the formula exits, I would be glad if someone can help me find out a reference for this.

Thanks
 
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I suspect the answer will depend on many factors.
In the simplest case you could presumably think of this as a two-level problem where you have a ground state and an excited state with some lifetime T. The lineshape should therefore -in most cases- be Lorentzian so that should also be the energy distribution of the photons.
If you are talking about a real dot and need to start worrying about conservation rules etc it will get messy quite quickly, but the above should be a good approximation.
 
I would think that the distribution would be a Lorentzian. And I will elaborate further on the probability of its emission
 
shirashi said:
Hi guys, I am looking for a formula which I am sure exits but I cannot locate it.The problem is that a quantum dot absorbs a photon of wavelength λ0(dot is semiconductor or could be any other material). Assuming that it reemits a photon, what is the probability that this emitted photon will have a wavelength λ. Of course if λ<λ0 then the probability is zero, but what kind of distribution does it have for λ>λ0 ?

I am sure this is a very standard problem and the formula exits, I would be glad if someone can help me find out a reference for this.

Thanks
The distribution should be a Lorentzian. The probabil
shirashi said:
Hi guys, I am looking for a formula which I am sure exits but I cannot locate it.The problem is that a quantum dot absorbs a photon of wavelength λ0(dot is semiconductor or could be any other material). Assuming that it reemits a photon, what is the probability that this emitted photon will have a wavelength λ. Of course if λ<λ0 then the probability is zero, but what kind of distribution does it have for λ>λ0 ?

I am sure this is a very standard problem and the formula exits, I would be glad if someone can help me find out a reference for this.

Thanks
The spectrum should be a Lorentzian, meaning that it is uniformely distributed. For the wavelength, wouldn't it be related to the probability of obtaining certain eigenvalues? If this statement is correct, you would have to solve the Schrödinger equation.
meanthatitiu
 
f95toli said:
I suspect the answer will depend on many factors.
In the simplest case you could presumably think of this as a two-level problem where you have a ground state and an excited state with some lifetime T. The lineshape should therefore -in most cases- be Lorentzian so that should also be the energy distribution of the photons.
If you are talking about a real dot and need to start worrying about conservation rules etc it will get messy quite quickly, but the above should be a good approximation.
I think the above statement is way more complex than needs to describe the wavelength propability of the quantum dot. Wouldn't it be ideal to just use the Schrödinger equation?
 
bluejay27 said:
The spectrum should be a Lorentzian, meaning that it is uniformely distributed.

What do you mean by uniformly distributed? A Lorentzian distribution is very different from a uniform distribution.

Also, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_dot#Optical_properties for graphs of the emission spectra of real quantum dots. They are not Lorentzian.
 
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Ygggdrasil said:
What do you mean by uniformly distributed? A Lorentzian distribution is very different from a uniform distribution.

Also, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_dot#Optical_properties for graphs of the emission spectra of real quantum dots. They are not Lorentzian.
You are right. I got confused with something being homogeneously broadened (Lorentzian) as normally distributed. The spectra is a gaussian, which is normally distributed.
 
bluejay27 said:
You are right. I got confused with something being homogeneously broadened (Lorentzian) as normally distributed. The spectra is a gaussian, which is normally distributed.

They are not exactly Gaussian either as you can see some appear to be asymmetric. The structure of the spectra are likely defined by the how much the wavefunction of the conduction band overlaps with the wavefunction of the different bands in the valence band. A more detailed answer would require a more detailed understanding of solid-state physics, and I don't remember much from when I studied that.
 
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bluejay27 said:
You are right. I got confused with something being homogeneously broadened (Lorentzian) as normally distributed. The spectra is a gaussian, which is normally distributed.

Ygggdrasil said:
They are not exactly Gaussian either as you can see some appear to be asymmetric. The structure of the spectra are likely defined by the how much the wavefunction of the conduction band overlaps with the wavefunction of the different bands in the valence band. A more detailed answer would require a more detailed understanding of solid-state physics, and I don't remember much from when I studied that.
I haven't checked myself, but to say whether the spectra are Gaussian, Lorentzian or neither one should look at the spectrum as a function of frequency not wavelength which is used in the Wikipedia link.
 
  • #11
Ygggdrasil said:
They are not exactly Gaussian either as you can see some appear to be asymmetric. The structure of the spectra are likely defined by the how much the wavefunction of the conduction band overlaps with the wavefunction of the different bands in the valence band. A more detailed answer would require a more detailed understanding of solid-state physics, and I don't remember much from when I studied that.
I obtain the Gaussian curve info from here (number 7). Let me know what you think about it.
 

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  • #12
blue_leaf77 said:
I haven't checked myself, but to say whether the spectra are Gaussian, Lorentzian or neither one should look at the spectrum as a function of frequency not wavelength which is used in the Wikipedia link.
What's the reasoning behind it?
 
  • #13
bluejay27 said:
What's the reasoning behind it?
A custom. Probably that's because the spectrum is the Fourier transform of field in time domain. This means if you apply FT on ##E(t)## you will get ##\tilde{E}(\omega)##, the spectrum. Of course you can simply use the relation ##\omega = 2\pi/\lambda## to get ##\tilde{E}(\lambda)## but this function will generally have different form than ##\tilde{E}(\omega)##. In some cases where the bandwidth is much smaller than the central wavelength, Gaussian ##\tilde{E}(\omega)## will approximately result in Gaussian ##\tilde{E}(\lambda)##.
 

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