NONLOCAL ELECTRODYNAMICS OF ARRAYS OF QUANTUM DOTS

We analyze the linear and nonlinear optical responses of an array of quantum dots (QD's). Our model treats the matter-field interaction self-consistently, and includes the nonlocality of the electromagnetic field throughout the system. This procedure allows us to address the dependence of radiative decay rates as well as of the nonlinear response on size, geometry, and the material. Applications are made to a one-dimensional periodic array of semiconductor quantum dots, where the intradot and interdot exciton motion is of Wannier and Frenkel types, respectively. We compare the optical nonlinearity enhancement of the array with that of a single QD.