Photocurrent spectroscopy on self-assembled InAs quantum dots embedded in InP

In this work, we report on an overview of recent results from Fourier transform photocurrent (FTPC) measurements in the infrared spectral region on ensembles of self-assembled InAs quantum dots embedded in a matrix of InP. In interband PC, clear signals related to the dots are observed. Comparing the PC- and PL spectra, we observe that the fundamental transition is absent in the PC spectra, which we interpret in terms of Pauliblocking due to a filled electron ground state of the dots. Our results furthermore suggest that an Auger process is involved in forming the interband PC signal. In intersubband PC, peaks related to transitions from the dots' ground- and first excited states to the conduction band of the matrix are observed. Using a novel approach of combining FTPC with illumination from an additional external nonmodulated light source, we have measured the spectral distribution of photoionization of excitons in quantum dots and found an exciton binding energy in good agreement with theoretical calculations. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.