Quantum Rings in Electromagnetic Fields

Abstract

This thesis is devoted to optical properties of Aharonov-Bohm quantum rings in external electromagnetic fields. It contains two problems. The first problem deals with a single-electron Aharonov-Bohm quantum ring pierced by a magnetic flux and subjected to an in-plane (lateral) electric field. We predict magneto-oscillations of the ring electric dipole moment. These oscillations are accompanied by periodic changes in the selection rules for inter-level optical transitions in the ring allowing control of polarization properties of the associated terahertz radiation. The second problem treats a single-mode microcavity with an embedded Aharonov-Bohm quantum ring, which is pierced by a magnetic flux and subjected to a lateral electric field. We show that external electric and magnetic fields provide additional means of control of the emission spectrum of the system. In particular, when the magnetic flux through the quantum ring is equal to a half-integer number of the magnetic flux quantum, a small change in the lateral electric field allows tuning of the energy levels of the quantum ring into resonance with the microcavity mode, providing an efficient way to control the quantum ring-microcavity coupling strength. Emission spectra of the system are calculated for several combinations of the applied magnetic and electric fields.