Problems in recent analysis of injected carrier dynamics in semiconductor quantum dots

This brief letter discusses conceptual problems that appeared in recent ana lysis of injected carrier dynamics in semiconductor quantum dots. It is poi nted out that the frequently adopted approximation of neglecting the upward relaxation transitions severely restricts the validity of rate equations a nalysis. The proposed alternative approach with master equations for the tr ansitions between microstates has, in principle, validity equivalent with c onventional rate equations, but the presented form of equations neglects th e upward transitions and has inaccurate expressions for the downward flow c ontributions. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.