Many-Body Effects in Semiconductor Quantum Dots - Carrier Scattering and Optical Properties

In this thesis theoretical models for the description of optical properties of semiconductor quantum dots are developed. Particular attention is given to the inclusion of many-body effects. The carrier dynamics and spectral properties due to the many-body interactions are calculated using a non-equilibrium Green's function formalism. In particular, the simultaneous influence of the carrier-phonon and Coulomb interaction on scattering efficiency in a quantum-dot system is investigated. Furthermore, the interplay of structural properties and many-body interactions has a large influence on optical properties. By implementing a configuration interaction scheme, we find that the Coulomb interaction strongly enhances the ground-state transitions by partly neutralizing the quantum-confined Stark effect in nonpolar nitride quantum dots