Realistic models of quantum-dot heterostructures

Different numerical simulations of quantum-dot heterostructures derived from experimental results are presented. We extrapolated three-dimensional dot models directly by atomic force microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy results, and we present electromechanical, continuum k⃗ · p⃗, atomistic Tight Binding and optical calculations for these realistic structures, also compared with benchmark calculations with ideal structures largely applied in the literature. According our results, the use of more realistic structures can provide significant improvements into the modeling and the understanding of quantum-dot nanostructures.