Self-assembled quantum dots: Crossover from kinetically controlled to thermodynamically limited growth - art. no. 236101

By means of kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of the self-organized growth of quantum dots in strained semiconductor systems we resolve the seemingly co ntradictory features of kinetic versus thermodynamic behavior, e.g., with r espect to the temperature dependence of the average dot size and their disp ersion. We show that the size distribution immediately after deposition is kinetically controlled, with smaller islands for lower temperatures and lar ger islands for higher temperatures. For longer simulation times the kineti cs leads to equilibration, and a crossover effect between the size distribu tions occurs, which is in good agreement with the predictions of thermodyna mics.