Linearly and Circularly Polarized Photon Emission from an Individual Semiconductor Quantum Dot

Anisotropic electron-hole exchange in semiconductor quantum dots is discussed in the context of efforts to obtain generation of entangled photon pairs from a biexciton-exciton cascade in a semiconductor quantum dot. Recent studies of anisotropy in III-V and II-VI quantum dots are described, followed by a discussion of attempts to compensate its influence by application of an electric field. Both macroscopic field generated by a voltage applied to electrodes and microscopic local fluctuation field are considered. (author)