Theoretical study of quantum confined Stark shift in InAs／GaAs quantum dots

The quantum confined Stark effect (QCSE) of the self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots has been investigated theoretically. The ground-state transition energies for quantum dots in the shape of a cube, pyramid or “truncated pyramid” are calculated and analysed. We use a method based on the Green function technique for calculating thestrain in quantum dots and an efficient plane-wave envelope-function technique to determine the ground-state electronic structure of them with different shapes. The symmetry of quantum dots is broken by the effect of strain. So the properties of carriers show different behaviours from the traditional quantum device. Based on these results, we also calculate permanent built-in dipole moments and compare them with recent experimental data. Our results demonstrate that the measured Stark effect in self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dot structures can be explained by including linear grading.     

Electronic characteristics of InAs self-assembled quantum dots

Deep-level transient spectroscopy and photoluminescence studies have been carried out on structures containing self-assembled InAs quantum dots formed in GaAs matrices. The use of n- and p-type GaAs matrices allows us to study separately electron and hole levels in the quantum dots by the deep-level transient spectroscopy technique. From analysis of deep-level transient spectroscopy measurements it follows that the quantum dots have electron levels 130 meV below the bottom of the GaAs conduction band and heavy-hole levels at 90 meV above the top of the GaAs valence band. Combining with the photoluminescence results, the band structures of InAs and GaAs have been determined.     

Transmission electron microscopy study of vertical quantum dots molecules grown by droplet epitaxy

The compositional distribution of InAs quantum dots grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs capped InAs quantum dots has been studied in this work. Upper quantum dots are nucleated preferentially on top of the quantum dots underneath, which have been nucleated by droplet epitaxy. The growth process of these nanostructures, which are usually called as quantum dots molecules, has been explained. In order to understand this growth process, the analysis of the strain has been carried out from a 3D model of the nanostructure built from transmission electron microscopy images sensitive to the composition.     

Studying the mechanism of ordered growth of InAs quantum dots on GaAs/InP

We study the mechanism of ordered growth of InAs quantum dots (islands) on a GaAs/InP substrate in theory and point out that the tensile strain can be used to control InAs/InP self-assembled quantum dots arrangement. Photoluminescence spectrum, and atomic force microscopy images have been investigated. In the experiment, ordered InAs islands have been obtained and the maximum density of quantum dots is 1.6×10¹⁰ cm⁻² at 4 monolayers InAs layer.     

双层堆垛长波长InAs/GaAs量子点发光性质研究

研究了双层堆垛InAs/GaAs/InAs自组织量子点的生长和光致发光(PL)的物理性质。通过优化InAs淀积量、中间GaAs层厚度以及InAs量子点生长温度等生长条件,获得了室温光致发光1391～1438nm的高质量InAs量子点。研究发现对量子点GaAs间隔层实施原位退火、采用Sb辅助生长InGaAs盖层等方法可以增强高密度(2×1010 cm-2)InAs量子点的发光强度,减小光谱线宽,改善均匀性和红移发光波长。     

Photoreflectance study of energy level structure of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots emitting at 1.3 μm

Photoreflectance and photoluminescence measurements were performed on the ensemble of self assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots designed to emit at 1.3 μm. As many as six QDs-related optical transitions were observed in PR spectra, the energies of which were confirmed by high-excitation PL results. Numerical calculations allowed estimating the average size of the dots, which is larger than for standard InAs/GaAs QDs. This result is in agreement with structural data. Additionally, the energy level structure for such QDs was derived and compared with the electronic structure of standard InAs/GaAs dots. It was shown that the energy level structure of such large dots qualifies them for the active region of a laser emitting at 1.3 μm.     

Competition between strain and confinement effects on the crystalline quality of InAs/GaAs (001) quantum dots probed by Raman spectroscopy

Self‐organized quantum dots (SOQDs) of InAs/GaAs (001) prepared at low growth temperatures have been carried out by Raman spectroscopy. The structural study performed on these samples using atomic force microscopy showed the presence of two families of quantum dots, and these results were confirmed by analysis of Raman spectra. The low temperature growth leads to smaller dots with nonuniform sizes. The disagreement between the lattice parameters violated the selection rules, and all Raman modes could be observed. SOQDs Raman spectrum shows contribution from the GaAs substrate, the wetting layer, InAs quantum dots and InGaAs alloys at InAs/GaAs interface. A spatial correlation model including the different vibration modes was used to adjust the experimental result. A good agreement of theoretical and experimental results was obtained. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

自组织InAs/GaAs量子点垂直排列生长研究

利用自组织生长InAs/GaAs量子点的垂直相关排列机制，生长了上下两层用6.5nm GaAs间隔的InAs结构.下层InAs已经成岛，由于应力传递效应，上层InAs由二维生长向三维成岛生长的转变提前发生，临界厚度从1.7ML变成小于1.5ML.透射电子显微镜截面象显示形成上下两层高度差别很大的InAs量子点，但是由于两层量子点之间存在强烈的电子耦合，光致发光谱中只有与包含大量子点的InAs层相对应的一个发光峰.     

Analysis of room temperature PL spectra of InAs/GaAs/InP and InAs/InP self-assembled QDs: A five-band study

In this paper, room temperature PL spectra of InAs self-assembled dots grown on GaAs/InP and InP substrate are presented. For analyzing different positions of the PL peaks, we examine the strain tensor in these quantum dots (QDs) using a valence force field model, and use a five-band k·p formalism to find the electronic spectra. We find that the GaAs tensile-stained layer affects the position of room temperature PL peak. The redshift of PL peak of InAs/GaAs/InP QDs compared to that of InAs/InP QDs is explained theoretically.     

Electron and hole levels of InAs quantum dots in a GaAs matrix

Photoluminescence, capacitance-voltage and transmission electron microscopy studies have been carried out on structures containing a sheet of a self-assembled InAs quantum dots formed in GaAs matrices after the deposition of a 1.7 ML of InAs at 480°C. The use of n- and p-type GaAs matrices allows us to study separately electron and hole levels in the quantum dots by the capacitance-voltage technique. From analysis of photoluminescence and capacitance-voltage measurements it follows that the quantum dots have electron levels 80 meV below the bottom of the GaAs conduction band and two heavy-hole levels at 100 meV and 170 meV above the top of the GaAs valence band.     

Photoluminescence kinetics of structures with InAs quantum dots for IR photodetectors

The experimental results of a photoluminescence kinetics study of InAs/GaAs structures with quantum dots grown by metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy are shown. The measurements have revealed the fast capture of excited carriers from the GaAs barrier to quantum dots and slow interlevel relaxation inside the quantum dots.     

Anisotropy of electronic wave functions in self-assembled InAs dots embedded in the center of a GaAs quantum well studied by magnetotunneling spectroscopy

We present an experimental study of electron wave functions in InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots by magnetotunneling spectroscopy. The electronic wave functions have a biaxial symmetry in the growth plane, with axes corresponding to the main crystallographic directions in the growth plane. Moreover, we observed the in-plane anisotropy of the subbands of the quantum well.     

The refractive nonlinearities of InAs/GaAs quantum dots above-bandgap energy

The third-order optical nonlinear refractive properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dots grown by molecular beam epitaxy have been measured using the reflection Z-scan technique at above-bandgap energy. The nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption index of the InAs/GaAs quantum dots were determined for wavelengths from 740 to 777 nm. The measured results are compared with the nonlinear refractive response of several typical III-V group semiconductor materials. The corresponding mechanisms responsible for the large nonlinear response are discussed.     

Nanometer-scale resolution of strain and interdiffusion in self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots

Tomographic nanometer-scale images of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots have been obtained from surface-sensitive x-ray diffraction. Based on the three-dimensional intensity mapping of selected regions in reciprocal space, the method yields the shape of the dots along with the lattice parameter distribution and the vertical interdiffusion profile on a subnanometer scale. The material composition is found to vary continuously from GaAs at the base of the dot to InAs at the top.     

Coherent optical manipulations of the fundamental state in a single quantum dot

By means of an original all-optical experimental technique using microphotoluminescence in a waveguiding geometry, resonant coherent manipulation of quantum states in a single quantum dot becomes possible now. Resonant Rabi oscillation of the fundamental exciton state in a single quantum dot has been realized. We present the results obtained on two different kinds of samples: InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots and naturally formed GaAs quantum dots by thickness fluctuations.     

PHOTOLUMINESCENCE STUDY OF InAs/GaAs SELF-ORGANIZED QUANTUM DOTS WITH BIMODAL SIZE DISTRIBUTION

We have investigated the temperature dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of self-organized InAs/GaAs quantum dots. A distinctive double-peak feature of the PL spectra from quantum dots has been observed, and a bimodal distribution of dot sizes has also been confirmed by scanning tunneling microscopy image for uncapped sample. The power-dependent PL study demonstrates that the distinctive PL emission peaks are associated with the ground-state emission of islands in different size branches. The temperature-dependent PL study shows that the PL quenching temperature for different dot families is different. Due to lacking of the couple between quantum dots, an unusual temperature dependence of the linewidth and peak energy of the dot ensemble photoluminescence has not been observed. In addition, we have tuned the emission wavelength of InAs QDs to 1.3 μm at room temperature.     

Piezoelectric effects and electronic structures of InAs/GaAs quantum dots grown along (111) and (011) directions

Piezoelectric effects and electronic structures of InAs/GaAs quantum dots grown along (111) and (011) directions are investigated in this paper. The finite element method is used. Electronic energy levels are calculated by solving the three-dimensional effective mass Schr?dinger equation including a strain modified confinement potential and piezoelectric effects. The difference in electronic structure between quantum dots grown along the (111) direction and the (011) direction are compared. The cubic and truncated pyramidal shaped quantum dots are adopted.     

内嵌InAs量子点的δ掺杂GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs二维电子气特性分析

采用分子束外延技术对δ掺杂GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs二维电子气(2DEG)样品进行了生长. 在样品生长过程中, 分别改变掺杂浓度(N_d)、空间隔离层厚度(W_d) 和Al_xGa_1-xAs中Al组分(x_Al)的大小, 并在双温(300 K, 78 K)条件下对生长的样品进行了霍尔测量; 结合测试结果, 分别对N_d, W_d及x_Al与GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs 2DEG的载流子浓度和迁移率之间的关系规律进行了细致的分析讨论. 生长了包含有低密度InAs量子点层的δ掺杂GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs 2DEG 样品, 采用梯度生长法得到了不同密度的InAs量子点. 霍尔测量结果表明, 随着InAs量子点密度的增加, GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs 2DEG的迁移率大幅度减小, 实验中获得了密度最低为16×10⁸/cm²的InAs量子点样品. 实验结果为内嵌InAs量子点的δ掺杂GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs 2DEG的研究和应用提供了依据和参考. 关键词： 二维电子气 InAs量子点 载流子浓度 迁移率     

MBE自组织生长多层竖直自对准InAs量子点结构的研究

利用MBE方法在(001)GaAs衬底上生长了多层竖直自对准InAs量子点结构。透射电子显微镜的观察表明,多层量子点成一系列柱状分布。同单层量子点相比,多层量子点的光荧光谱线发生红移。这表明由于量子点中载流子波函数的扩展和交迭,柱中量子点之间有耦合现象发生。光荧光谱线半高宽随温度的反常变化说明载流子还会在邻近柱中隧穿.     

Electron and hole effective masses in self-assembled quantum dots

Electron and hole effective masses in self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots are determined by fitting the energy levels calculated by a single-band model to those obtained by a more sophisticated tight-binding method. For the dots of various shapes and dimensions, the electron effective-mass is found to be much larger than that in the bulk and become anisotropic in the dots of large aspect ratio while the hole effective-mass becomes almost isotropic in the dots of small aspect ratio. For flat InAs/GaAs quantum dots, the most appropriate value for the electron and hole effective-mass is believed to be the electron effective-mass in bulk GaAs and the vertical heavy-hole effective-mass in bulk InAs, respectively.