The first computer to use a quantum dot laser was released in 2001.
This revolutionary computer was the first of its kind to use a quantum dot laser, a cutting-edge technology that allowed for faster data processing speeds and increased storage capacity. Released in 2001, this computer was a major breakthrough in the field of computing and paved the way for further advancements in the industry
Quantum dots (QDs) or semiconductor nanocrystals are semiconductor particles a few nanometres in size with optical and electronic properties that differ from those of larger particles via quantum mechanical effects. They are a central topic in nanotechnology and materials science. When a quantum dot is illuminated by UV light, an electron in the quantum dot can be excited to a state of higher energy. In the case of a semiconducting quantum dot, this process corresponds to the transition of an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. The excited electron can drop back into the valence band releasing its energy as light. This light emission (photoluminescence) is illustrated in the figure on the right. The color of that light depends on the energy difference between the discrete energy levels of the quantum dot in the conduction band and the valence band.