Semiconductor self-assembled quantum dots (SAQDs) normally have zero-dimensional properties, but become coupled and acquire higher-dimensional character if the distance between the dots is small. Using photoluminescence spectroscopy under high hydrostatic pressure, we have obtained clear evidence for electronic coupling due to quantum-mechanical tunneling in stacks of InGaAsGaAs SAQDs. We demonstrate that application of pressure allows controllable tuning and suppression of the electronic coupling. The effect originates from a pressure-induced increase in the effective mass of Γ-electrons and a related increase in the interdot-barrier height.

1.
D.
Bimberg
,
M.
Grundmann
, and
N. N.
Ledentsov
,
Quantum Dot Heterostructures
(
Wiley
, New York,
1999
).
2.
Single Quantum Dots. Fundamentals, Applications and New Concepts
, edited by
P.
Michler
, in Topics in Applied Physics Vol.
90
(
Springer
, Berlin,
2003
).
3.
R.
Nötzel
,
Semicond. Sci. Technol.
11
,
1365
(
1996
).
4.
D.
Bimberg
,
M.
Grundmann
,
F.
Heinrichsdorff
,
N. N.
Ledentsov
,
V. M.
Ustinov
,
A. E.
Zhukov
,
A. R.
Kovsh
,
M. V.
Maximov
,
Y. M.
Shernyakov
,
B. V.
Volovik
,
A. F.
Tsatsul’nikov
,
P. S.
Kop’ev
, and
Z. I.
Alferov
,
Thin Solid Films
367
,
235
(
2000
), and references therein.
5.
M. A.
Migliorato
,
L. R.
Wilson
,
D. J.
Mowbray
,
M. S.
Skolnick
,
M.
Al-Khafaji
,
A. G.
Cullis
, and
M.
Hopkinson
,
J. Appl. Phys.
90
,
6374
(
2001
).
6.
C. R.
Kagan
,
C. B.
Murray
,
M.
Nirmal
, and
M. G.
Bawendi
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
76
,
1517
(
1996
);
[PubMed]
S. A.
Crooker
,
J. A.
Hollingworth
,
S.
Tretiak
, and
V. I.
Klimov
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
89
,
186802
(
2002
).
[PubMed]
7.
P.
Perlin
,
W.
Trzeciakowski
,
E.
Litwin-Staszewska
,
J.
Muszalski
, and
M.
Micovic
,
Semicond. Sci. Technol.
9
,
2239
(
1994
).
8.
I. E.
Itskevich
,
M.
Henini
,
H. A.
Carmona
,
L.
Eaves
,
P. C.
Main
,
D. K.
Maude
, and
J.-C.
Portal
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
70
,
505
(
1997
);
I. E.
Itskevich
,
S. G.
Lyapin
,
I. A.
Troyan
,
P. C.
Klipstein
,
L.
Eaves
,
P. C.
Main
, and
M.
Henini
,
Phys. Rev. B
58
,
R4250
(
1998
).
9.
A. J.
Williamson
and
A.
Zunger
,
Phys. Rev. B
58
,
6724
(
1998
).
10.
G.
Bastard
,
Wave Mechanics Applied to Semiconductor Heterostructures
(
Les Editions de Physique
, Paris,
1988
).
11.
12.
W.
Sheng
and
J.-P.
Leburton
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
78
,
1258
(
2001
).
13.
B.
Szafran
,
S.
Bednarek
, and
J.
Adamowski
,
Phys. Rev. B
64
,
125301
(
2001
).
14.
M.
Korkusinski
and
P.
Hawrilak
,
Phys. Rev. B
63
,
195311
(
2001
).
15.
M.
Bayer
,
P.
Hawrilak
,
K.
Hinzer
,
S.
Fafard
,
M.
Korkusinski
,
Z. R.
Wasilewski
,
O.
Stern
, and
A.
Forchel
,
Science
291
,
451
(
2001
).
16.
M. H.
Son
,
J. H.
Oh
,
D. Y.
Jeong
,
D.
Ahn
,
M. S.
Sun
,
S. W.
Hwang
,
J. E.
Oh
, and
L. W.
Engel
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
82
,
1230
(
2003
).
You do not currently have access to this content.