Localization of electrons and Bloch oscillations in quantum dot superlattices in dc electric field

It is shown that spectra of electrons in ideal 2D and 3D quantum dot superlattices on the dc electric field can be discrete or continuous depending on the field orientation with regard to the superlattice crystallographic axes. In the last case, the width of arising transverse miniband depends exponentially on the crystallographic index of field orientation. Abrupt modifications of the electron localization area occur close to direction of the field corresponding to continuous spectra. A picture of Bloch oscillations in such superlattices is given. It is found out that scattering of oscillating electrons can be strongly suppressed by appropriate choice of the field strength and orientation