Coherent electron-hole correlations in quantum dots

Using numerical time propagation of the electron-hole wave function, we demonstrate how various coherent correlation effects can be observed by laser excitation of a nanoscale semiconductor quantum dot. The lowest-lying states of an electron-hole pair, when appropriately excited by a laser pulse, give rise to charge oscillations that are manifested by beatings in the optical or intraband polarizations. A GaAs 5x25x25 nm(3) dot in the effective-mass approximation, including the screened Coulomb interaction between the electron and a heavy or light hole, is simulated. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.