Measuring the size of buried quantum dots using phonons

Using time resolved techniques we have observed oscillatory structure in th e phonon reflection from quantum dots. We attribute this to interference oc curring between phonons reflected from the opposite surfaces of each indivi dual dot. The data are modeled adequately by assuming that the incident pho non spectrum is monochromatic at the dominant thermal phonon wavelength We are able to deduce the values 3.3 and 23 nm for the dot height and diameter respectively. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.