Correlations in quantum dots

The lowest excitations of a repulsively interacting few particle system are investigated within correlated ''pocket state'' basis functions. For long range interaction and non-isotropic confining potentials the method becomes exact, in the limit of large mean inter-particle distances r(s). The multiplet structure of the many-electron energy levels is explained and the ratios delta between the lowest excitation energies, which are related to the electron spin, are determined quantitatively using group theoretical means. The delta are independent of the detailed form of the inter-particle repulsion and of sufficiently large r(s). The obtained delta-values are confirmed by available numerical data. The method is applied to 1D and 2D quantum dots.