The exciton-phonon coupling of a single zero-dimensional exciton is studied
in epitaxially grown CdSe/Zn1 - xCdxSe quantum dot structures by analyzing
its linewidth and phonon-assisted recombination. The single excitons do no
t couple to only a single phonon mode, but to a distribution of phonons, he
re consisting of the zone-center ZnSe longitudinal optic (LO) phonon and of
mixed modes with an energy statistics centered between the ZnSe and CdSe L
O phonon. Both exciton and corresponding biexciton reveal LO-phonon replica
intensities of similar to 3% of the respective zero-phonon emission. These
similar LO-phonon coupling strengths are evidence of a reduced polarity of
the exciton states within the biexciton as the result of exciton-exciton c
orrelation. [S0163-1829(99)50128-8].