ABSTRACT
Semiconductor quantum dots have proved to be a convenient tool for exploring the physics of carriers and excitons confinement in zero dimensional structures. The rapid progress in lithography techniques as well as self-assembling crystal growth techniques have also been responsible for advances in this field and the growing variety of quantum dot devices that are under investigation. In this first lecture, I will review the fundamentals thermodynamics and kinetics processes involved in the self-assembled quantum dot formation on both planar and patterned substrates. The zero dimensional characteristics of the QDs will be addressed along with results showing the importance of on many body effects in single and coupled QDs.
