Polaron coupling in quantum dot molecules - art. no. 075315

We report on the calculation of polaron energies in InAs quantum dot molecu les. Polaron effects are larger in vertical than in lateral molecules. The far infrared absorption associated with molecular polaron transitions is ca lculated. It may show prominent lines associated with inter dot polaron tra nsitions. We have also calculated the polaron relaxation time to thermodyna mical equilibrium when its lifetime is limited by the decay of its phonon c omponent due to crystal anharmonicity.