Spectroscopy, Imaging and Switching Behaviour of Individual InP/GaInP Quantum Dots

Abstract

We have measured the photoluminescence of individual quantum dots grown by the Stranski-Krastanow growth mode. Studies of many individual quantum dots reveal that about one quantum dot in a thousand switches between two emission intensity levels on a time-scale of seconds. The switching is temperature and excitation power activated. For each set of experimental conditions, the statistics is consistent with random telegraph noise. By strong illumination it is possible to turn the switching off, after which the quantum dot emits continuously.