Physics

Quantum dot

Nanotechnology

Nanoscopic scale

Laser

Heterojunction

Optics

Semiconductor laser theory

Semiconductor

Epitaxy

Materials science

Layer (electronics)

Lasing threshold

Optoelectronics

Wavelength

Quantum dot laser

Semiconductor Science and Technology

Discovery of self-organized epitaxial quantum dots (QDs) resulted in multiple breakthroughs in the field of physics of zero-dimensional heterostructures and allowed the advancement of optoelectronic devices, most remarkably, lasers. The most advanced and well-understood results are obtained for lasers based on Stranski–Krastanow InGaAs–GaAs three-dimensional QDs; even significant progress in the understanding of basic lasing properties is also achieved for QDs made of II–VI materials and 'native' QDs formed by nanoscale alloy phase separation in the InGaN–AlGaN material system.