Self-assembled InAs Quantum Dots Research Articles

Electronic and optical properties of semiconductor and graphene quantum dots

Our recent work on the electronic and optical properties of semiconductor and graphene quantum dots is reviewed. For strained self-assembled InAs quantum dots on GaAs or InP substrate atomic positions and strain distribution are described using valence-force field approach and continuous elasticity theory. The strain is coupled with the effective mass, k · p, effective bond-orbital and atomistic tight-binding models for the description of the conduction and valence band states. The single-particle states are used as input to the calculation of optical properties, with electron-electron interactions included via configuration interaction (CI) method. This methodology is used to describe multiexciton complexes in quantum dot lasers, and in particular the hidden symmetry as the underlying principle of multiexciton energy levels, manipulating emission from biexcitons for entangled photon pairs, and optical control and detection of electron spins using gates. The self-assembled quantum dots are compared with graphene quantum dots, one carbon atom-thick nanostructures. It is shown that the control of size, shape and character of the edge of graphene dots allows to manipulate simultaneously the electronic, optical, and magnetic properties in a single material system.

High-quality structures with InAs/Al 0.9Ga 0.1As QDs produced by droplet epitaxy

Structures with InAs self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) in Al 0.9Ga 0.1As matrix were grown by droplet molecular beam epitaxy. Usually, it is considered that the wetting layer does not form in the droplet molecular beam epitaxy growth mode. However, a well-defined wetting layer is observed in our structures. We demonstrate that this wetting layer has a smooth heterointerface and exhibits a low concentration of defects—nonradiative centers. As a result, a high efficient carrier transfer from the wetting layer to the QDs occurs in the structures.

Temperature dependence of optical properties of InAs quantum dots grown on GaAs(113)A and (115)A substrates

We have investigated the temperature dependence of photoluminescence (PL) peak position of InAs self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) grown on GaAs(11N)A (N = 3, 5) substrates. The interband transition energy is calculated by the resolution of the 3D Schrodinger equation for a parallelepipedic InAs QD, with a width of about 8 nm and a height around 3 nm. Experimentally, it was found that the PL spectra quenches at about 160 K. In addition, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) has an abnormal evolution with varying temperature. The latter effect maybe due to the carrier repopulation between QDs. The disorientation of the GaAs substrate and the low width of terraces which was presented in the high index surfaces have an important contribution in the PL spectra. Despite the non-realist chosen shape of QD and the simplest adopted model, theoretical and experimental results revealed a clear agreement.

Electrically tuned spin–orbit interaction in an InAs self-assembled quantum dot

Electrical control over electron spin is a prerequisite for spintronics spin-based quantum information processing. In particular, control over the interaction between the orbital motion and the spin state of electrons would be valuable, because this interaction influences spin relaxation and dephasing. Electric fields have been used to tune the strength of the spin-orbit interaction in two-dimensional electron gases, but not, so far, in quantum dots. Here, we demonstrate that electrical gating can be used to vary the energy of the spin-orbit interaction in the range 50-150 µeV while maintaining the electron occupation of a single self-assembled InAs quantum dot. We determine the spin-orbit interaction energy by observing the splitting of Kondo effect features at high magnetic fields.

Electrically tunedgtensor in an InAs self-assembled quantum dot

We investigate the all-electrical tuning of the Land\'e $g$ tensor in a single uncapped InAs quantum dot contacted with a nanogap electrode technique and electrically gated with both back- and side-gate electrodes. Magnetotransport measurements allow extraction of the $g$ tensor components from measurements of the Zeeman energy for magnetic fields applied in the plane of the sample. The side-gate electrode allows tuning of the anisotropy of the in-plane $g$ tensor components and is suitable for the manipulation of the quantum-dot spin states using $g$ factor modulation resonance schemes.

Effects of an InGaAs Cap Layer on the Optical Properties of InAs Quantum Dot Molecules

Self-assembled InAs quantum dot molecules are grown on GaAs substrates without following any special protocols by using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The effects of indium composition and the thickness of the InGaAs cap layer on the optical properties of InAs quantum dot molecules are investigated by photoluminescence. With increasing indium composition and thickness of the InGaAs cap layer, the ground-state wavelength of the emission spectrum redshifts and the peak intensity decreases. In addition, the structural and optical properties of quantum dots and quantum dot molecules are comparatively studied, and the results show that when quantum dots turn into quantum dot molecules, the emission wavelength red shifts.

Composition profiling of InAs quantum dots and wetting layers by atom probe tomography and cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy

This study compares cross-sectional scanning tunnelling microscopy (XSTM) and atom probe tomography (APT). We use epitaxially grown self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) in GaAs as an exemplary material with which to compare these two nanostructural analysis techniques. We studied the composition of the wetting layer and the QDs, and performed quantitative comparisons of the indium concentration profiles measured by each method. We show that computational models of the wetting layer and the QDs, based on experimental data, are consistent with both analytical approaches. This establishes a link between the two techniques and shows their complimentary behaviour, an advantage which we exploit in order to highlight unique features of the examined QD material.

Integrated quantum optical networks based on quantum dots and photonic crystals

Single solid-state optical emitters have quantum mechanical properties that make them suitable for applications in information processing and sensing. Most of these quantum technologies rely on the capability to integrate the emitters in reliable solid-state optical networks. In this paper, we present integrated devices based on GaAs photonic crystals and InAs self-assembled quantum dots. These quantum networks are well suited to future optoelectronic devices operating at ultralow power levels, single-photon logic devices and quantum information processing.

Observation and explanation of strong electrically tunable excitongfactors in composition engineered In(Ga)As quantum dots

Strong electrically tunable exciton g-factors are observed in individual (Ga)InAs self-assembled quantum dots and the microscopic origin of the effect is explained. Realistic eight band k.p simulations quantitatively account for our observations, simultaneously reproducing the exciton transition energy, DC Stark shift, diamagnetic shift and g-factor tunability for model dots with the measured size and a comparatively low In-composition of x(In)~35% near the dot apex. We show that the observed g-factor tunability is dominated by the hole, the electron contributing only weakly. The electric field induced perturbation of the hole wavefunction is shown to impact upon the g-factor via orbital angular momentum quenching, the change of the In:Ga composition inside the envelope function playing only a minor role. Our results provide design rules for growing self-assembled quantum dots for electrical spin manipulation via electrical g-factor modulation.

Femtosecond high-power quantum dot vertical external cavity surface emitting laser

We report on the first femtosecond vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) exceeding 1 W of average output power. The VECSEL is optically pumped, based on self-assembled InAs quantum dot (QD) gain layers, cooled efficiently using a thin disk geometry and passively modelocked with a fast quantum dot semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM). We developed a novel gain structure with a flat group delay dispersion (GDD) of ± 10 fs2 over a range of 30 nm around the designed operation wavelength of 960 nm. This amount of GDD is several orders of magnitude lower compared to standard designs. Furthermore, we used an optimized positioning scheme of 63 QD gain layers to broaden and flatten the spectral gain. For stable and self-starting pulse formation, we have employed a QD-SESAM with a fast absorption recovery time of around 500 fs. We have achieved 1 W of average output power with 784-fs pulse duration at a repetition rate of 5.4 GHz. The QD-SESAM and the QD-VECSEL are operated with similar cavity mode areas, which is beneficial for higher repetition rates and the integration of both elements into a modelocked integrated external-cavity surface emitting laser (MIXSEL).

π junction transition in InAs self-assembled quantum dot coupled with SQUID

We report the transport measurements on the InAs self-assembled quantum dots (SAQDs) which have a unique structural zero-dimensionality, coupled to a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Owing to the SQUID geometry, we directly observe a π phase shift in the current phase relation and the negative supercurrent indicating π junction behavior by not only tuning the energy level of SAQD by back-gate but also controlling the coupling between SAQD and electrodes by side-gate. Our results inspire the future quantum information devices which can link optical, spin, and superconducting state.

Self-assembled InAs quantum dots on anti-phase domains of GaAs on Ge substrates

The authors report the formation of self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) grown on GaAs/Ge substrates having anti-phase domains (APDs) by molecular beam epitaxy. The AFM images of InAs QDs grown on different GaAs thicknesses are shown and compared. The samples with InAs coverage of 1.80MLs with GaAs thickness of 300 and 700nm show non-uniformed size distribution of the dots. Due to anisotropic property of quantum dots, ellipsoidal quantum dots appear. Unexpectedly, most of InAs quantum dots align perpendicularly to anti-phase boundary (APB) and to quantum dot alignment formed in adjacent domains. Photoluminescence spectrum excited by 20mW 476-nm Ar+ laser at 20K does not show emission peak of InAs QDs. This is due to defects in the GaAs buffer layer.

Spin effects in InAs self-assembled quantum dots

We have studied the polarized resolved photoluminescence in an n-type resonant tunneling diode (RTD) of GaAs/AlGaAs which incorporates a layer of InAs self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) in the center of a GaAs quantum well (QW). We have observed that the QD circular polarization degree depends on applied voltage and light intensity. Our results are explained in terms of the tunneling of minority carriers into the QW, carrier capture by InAs QDs and bias-controlled density of holes in the QW.

Influence of In and As fluxes on growth of self-assembled InAs quantum dots on GaAs(0 0 1)

The growth of self-assembled (SA) quantum dots (QDs) on GaAs(001) by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is studied as a function of the In and As fluxes. Under growth rates below 0.05ML/s, we find that the density of QDs increases not only with increasing In flux but also with As flux. The formation mechanisms are discussed based on the results obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and that As flux alters the surface diffusion, leading to the control of QD nucleus density.

Correlating structure, strain, and morphology of self-assembled InAs quantum dots on GaAs

We report on the use of a direct x-ray phase retrieval method, coherent Bragg rod analysis, to characterize self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) grown epitaxially on GaAs substrates. Electron density maps obtained close to the x-ray absorption edges of the constituent elements are compared to deconvolute composition and atomic spacing information. Our measurements show no evidence of a wetting layer and reveal bowing of the atomic layers throughout the QD, extending from the QD-substrate interface. This leads to a half-layer stacking shift which may act to partially decouple the QDs electronically from the substrate.

Observation of Rabi Splitting from Surface Plasmon Coupled Conduction State Transitions in Electrically Excited InAs Quantum Dots

We demonstrate strong coupling between a surface plasmon and intersublevel transitions in self-assembled InAs quantum dots. The surface plasmon mode exists at the interface between the semiconductor emitter structure and a periodic array of holes perforating a metallic Pd/Ge/Au film that also serves as the top electrical contact for the emitters. Spectrally narrowed quantum-dot electroluminescence was observed for devices with varying subwavelength hole spacing. Devices designed for 9, 10, and 11 μm wavelength emission also exhibit a significant spectral splitting. The association of the splitting with quantum-dot Rabi oscillation is consistent with results from a calculation of spontaneous emission from an interacting plasmonic field and quantum-dot ensemble. The fact that this Rabi oscillation can be observed in an incoherently excited, highly inhomogeneously broadened system demonstrates the utility of intersublevel transitions in quantum dots for investigations of coherent transient and quantum coherence phenomena.

Ultrafast Nonlinear Spectroscopy of Strain-compensated Quantum Dots

We investigate the dephasing mechanism of optically-induced exciton coherence in an ensemble of InAs self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) using a two-pulse photon-echo (PE) technique. The sample was fabricated on an InP (311)B substrate using strain compensation to control the emission wavelength. This technique also enabled us to fabricate a 150-layer stacked QD structure for enhancing the PE signal intensity. We show the measured decay time of PE signal intensity for resonant excitation of ground-state transition is extremely long, which corresponds to ultralong coherence times of excitons in our QDs. We confirmed that non-radiative population relaxation and pure dephasing are considerably smaller than the radiative relaxation at low temperature. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ultrafast coherent control of QD exciton polarization by changing the pulse areas (Rabi oscillations) in the PE experiment. We also propose a new scheme for implementing QD quantum memory by using the PE technique.

Optical Imaging of Electrical Carrier Injection into Individual InAs Quantum Dots

We image the micro-electroluminescence (EL) spectra of self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded in the intrinsic region of a GaAs p-i-n diode and demonstrate optical detection of carrier injection into a single QD. Tunneling of electrons and holes into the QDs at bias voltages below the flat-band condition leads to a spectrum of sharp EL lines from a small number of bright spots on the diode surface, characteristic of emission from individual QDs. We explain this behavior in terms of Coulomb interaction effects and the selective excitation of a small number of QDs within the ensemble due to preferential tunneling paths for carriers.

Effects of growth parameters on the surface morphology of InAs quantum dots grown on GaAs/Ge/Si1−xGex/Si substrate

We present the heterogeneous growth of InAs quantum dots (QDs) on Si platform using GaAs/Ge/Si1−xGex/Si substrate. Self-assembled InAs QDs were grown on GaAs/Ge/Si1−xGex/Si substrate by employing molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The areal density, width and height of QDs were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The undulation originating from the graded Si1−xGex/Si substrate causes no noticeable change in dot densities and dot dimensions across the undulated surface. The effects of V/III ratio and InAs coverage on structural properties of the QDs were investigated. The dot density increases with increasing V/III ratio and QDs with high density of 1011cm−2 were obtained, attributed to the reduced diffusion length of the adatoms. Lateral dimension of the QDs increases as the InAs coverage increases. The QDs coalesce at 3.0 monolayer (ML) InAs coverage. This work is beneficial to those working on III–V on Si integration.

Growth of Uniform and Self-Aligned InAs Quantum Dots on Vicinal (100) GaAs Substrate by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition Technique for Laser Applications

Self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) were grown on vicinal (100) GaAs substrate. Effect of InAs coverage and growth temperature was studied to optimize QDs for laser applications. The density and size distribution of QDs varied with the change in InAs coverage and growth temperature. Growth temperature was varied from 400 to 450°C and InAs coverage was varied between 1.40 and 2.35 monolayers (MLs). Optimum growth temperature was found to be 420°C. Density of QDs was first increased and then decreased with increase in InAs coverage. Linear increase in size and height of QDs was observed with increase in both growth temperature and InAs Coverage. It was observed that these two parameters play crucial role in optimization of uniform QDs.