Model study of quantum dots

The ground-state electronic structure of unsupported three-dimensional cylindrical quantum dots is investigated using a simple free electron model with a step potential. Detailed analysis of the electron structure is presented for different sizes of the quantum dot. The possibility to gain information about the adlayer growth mode from photoemission measurements is discussed and a comparison with experiments is made for the system Na on Cu(1 1 1). We show that an electron structure model study in combination with a STM-dI/dV measurement could give information about the symmetry of the electron states. Such a combined study would make it possible to predict molecular reactivity on quantum dots.