SPECTROSCOPY, IMAGING AND SWITCHING BEHAVIOR OF INDIVIDUAL INP GAINP QUANTUM DOTS/

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