The complex coordinate method, widely used in theoretical atomic spect
roscopy, is applied to study the energies and tunnelling times in the
process of resonant electron tunnelling through zero-dimensional semic
onductor nanostructures. A spherical rectangular barrier well potentia
l is used as a model of a quantum dot. Resonant states of different an
gular symmetry are studied vs the radius of the dot and the width of t
he barrier. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.