Excitonic Absorption in a Quantum Dot

The excitonic absorption spectrum of a single quantum dot is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The spectrum is determined by an interacting electron-valence-hole complex. We show that the mixing of quantum configurations by two-body interactions leads to distinct absorption spectra controlled by the number of confined electronic shells. The theoretical results are compared with results of photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy on a series of single self-assembled In0.60Ga0.40As quantum dots.