The fusion method was used to produce PbS quantum dots (QDs) embedded in S-doped glass matrix (SiO2-Na2CO3-Al2O3-PbO2-B2O3:S). Measurements of optical absorption (OA), photoluminescence (PL) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been carried out in order to characterize the produced QDs. A strong red-shift observed in the optical features with an increase of the annealing time indicates an increase in QD-size. The QD sizes predicted by k.p theoretical results were confirmed by AFM observation.

Theoretical calculations of electron-phonon scattering rates in GaAs/Al xGa1 - xAs spherical quantum dots have been performed by means of effective mass approximation in the frame of finite element method. The influence of a roughness interface and external magnetic fields are analysed for different scattering rate transition. Our results open interesting channels for electron dephasing times manipulation.

We calculate the spin relaxation rates in parabolic quantum dots due to the phonon modulation of the spin-orbit interaction in presence of an external magnetic field. Both, deformation potential (DP) and piezoelectric (PE) electron-phonon couplings are included in the Pavlov-Firsov spin-phonon Hamiltonian. We demonstrate that the spin relaxation rates are particularly sensitive with the Landé g-factor, and that for InAs dots the DP can be necessarily considered in the spin relaxation analysis. Low-temperature (T ~ 0) relaxation rates are found to be small and to depend strongly on size, g-factor, and on magnetic field.

The electron{acoustic-phonon scattering process in spherical II-VI quantum dots is discussed. The quantized acoustic modes are described in terms of the Lamb's classical theory. We considered two mechanism for the interaction between electrons and acoustic modes: microscopic deformation potential, and macroscopic acoustic deformation, also called the ripple mechanism. We also discuss the in uence of the glass matrix on the electron-phonon coupling. Our calculations show that the ripple mechanism scattering rates become dominant by more than an order of magnitude, for small dot radius. In general, the total scattering rate depends on the acoustical properties of the glass matrix.