  We present theoretical results concerning inelastic light (Raman) scattering
from semiconductor quantum dots. The characteristics of each dot state (whether
it is a collective or single-particle excitation, its multipolarity, and its
spin) are determined independently of the Raman spectrum, in such a way that
common beliefs used for level assignments in experimental spectra can be
tested. We explore the usefulness of below band gap excitation and an external
magnetic field to identify charge and spin excited states of a collective or
single-particle nature.
