The electronic properties of self-assembled quantum dots have been studied
by means of optical and tunnelling spectroscopy. The effect of confining ba
rrier composition and design on the thermal behaviour of the dot optical pr
operties is reported and exploited for the realisation of quantum dot based
lasers. Tunnel current spectroscopy through a single discrete quantum dot
state is used to investigate the electronic properties of an adjacent two-d
imensional electron gas, including the Landau level density of stales and m
any-body enhanced g-factor in the presence of a magnetic field.