Several samples with InxGa1-xAs quantum dots have been grown by molecu
lar beam epitaxy using the self-organization method. The substrate tem
perature was varied from sample to sample and atomic-force-microscopy
measurements were carried out to investigate the influence of this par
ameter on the morphological characteristics of the dots. We observed t
hat, under certain conditions related to the initial cleaning process,
the nanostructures could be confined within some regions of the sampl
e. 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.