Optical properties of group-III nitride quantum wells and quantum boxes

We propose an overview of specific optical properties of quantum-size artif icial structures made of group-IH nitride semiconductors with natural wurtz ite symmetry. We consider the cases of quantum wells and of quantum boxes o btained by the Stranski-Krastanov growth mode. We comment on results of con tinuous-wave and time-resolved optical spectroscopy, in comparison with our envelope-function calculations of excitonic energies and oscillator streng ths. The influence on recombination dynamics of internal electric fields an d carrier localization is discussed in detail.