RADIATIVE DAMPING OF COLLECTIVE EXCITATIONS IN PERIODIC ARRAYS OF QUANTUM WIRES AND DOTS

The problem of electromagnetic response and collective excitations in arrays of quantum wires and dots is solved taking into account electro dynamic (radiative) effects and the interwire (interdot) interaction. The radiative contribution (Gamma) to the total linewidth of collectiv e modes is calculated. It is shown that the interwire (interdot) inter action increases the radiative damping of collective modes by several orders of magnitude, and the radiative contribution to the linewidth o f plasma excitations, which has been always neglected so far, can exce ed the collisional contribution (gamma). The result allows us to remov e the discrepancy between observed and calculated linewidths of the co llective modes. The related problem of optical properties of small pol arizable particles is discussed. (C) 1998 Academic Press Limited.