Optical imaging of electrical carrier injection into individual InAs quantum dots

We image the micro-electroluminescence (EL) spectra of self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded in the intrinsic region of a GaAs p-i-n diode and demonstrate optical detection of carrier injection into a single QD. Tunneling of electrons and holes into the QDs at bias voltages below the flat-band condition leads to a spectrum of sharp EL lines from a small number of bright spots on the diode surface, characteristic of emission from individual QDs. We explain this behavior in terms of Coulomb interaction effects and the selective excitation of a small number of QDs within the ensemble due to preferential tunneling paths for carriers.