In segregation influence on properties of InAs quantum dots in dots-in-a-well

Abstract We investigated the growth of InAs quantum dots (QDs) in a dots-in-a-well (DWELL) from the perspective of the influence of In segregation from the InGaAs layers in the DWELL. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) measurements during the growth of the lower InGaAs layer indicated that In segregation increased with the In composition of the InGaAs layer. The estimated In segregation values were consistent with the decreases in the critical thickness for the QDs growth and the total volume variations of the grown QDs. These results illustrate that the segregated In from the lower InGaAs layer contributes to the QD growth in the DWELL, and their density increases. Furthermore, RHEED measurements during the growth of the upper InGaAs layer indicated the suppression of the deformation of embedded QDs , which could partially contribute to the longer emission wavelength of the QDs in the DWELL.