Layers of InAs quantum dots grown on [100] GaAs substrates were charac
terised by photoluminescence and investigated by transmission electron
microscopy. Two types of InAs islands were observed in these layers.
The islands of the first type had mainly a form of big, elongated pyra
mids. Most of them were found to be dislocated. On the other hand, the
islands of the second type were real self-assembled, coherent quantum
dots giving rise to a characteristic photoluminescence band.