Quantum Optics with semiconductor artificial atoms

Many groups worldwide explore semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) in the context of them being artificial atoms with discrete electronic and optical properties, and long-lived excitations potentially of interest for the implementation of emergent quantum technologies. Indeed, many manifestly atomlike properties have been observed in optical experiments, including Fourier limited ultra-narrow transitions at low temperatures, coherent light matter interactions characterised by Rabi oscillations and Mollow physics in near resonant light scattering experiments. Whilst the premise that QDs are artificial atoms in the solid state certainly has some truth to it, in this talk I will argue that much of the interesting physics arises from probing and understanding the coupling of discrete excitations to their solid-state environment.