Possible generation of electric multipole radiation from solid state quantum rings

The self-organized crystal growth of semiconductor quantum rings has opened a new possibility to study and exploit optical transitions between ring-shaped quantum states. In such states, orbital angular momenta of particle envelope functions are well-defined. We investigate theoretically the intraband interlevel transitions between such states and examine the possibility of electrical multipole radiations (EMRs). Selections rules due to envelope function quantum numbers are deduced. To enhance the EMR efficiency, we propose a novel coupled dot–ring structure, by which the lowest allowed EMR can be selected and manipulated, allowing the efficient radiation of multipole photons.