Quantum confined Stark effect and corresponding lifetime reduction in a single Inx Ga1-x N quantum disk

Time-integrated and time-resolved microphotoluminescence studies were carried out on Inx Ga1-x N quantum disks embedded in GaN nanocolumns grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Emission at ∼3.33 eV from confined states was detected and observed to blueshift with excitation power; a result of charge screening and the quantum confined Stark effect. Due to the reduced band bending and resulting increased overlap of the confined electron and hole wave functions, the lifetime of the emission was measured to decrease with increasing excitation power. The saturation of the blueshift and lifetime reduction follows that of the peak intensity, indicating a Stark screening process. © 2009 American Institute of Physics