Spatially indirect transitions in electric field tunable quantum dot diodes

We analyse an InAs/GaAs-based electric field tunable single quantum dot diode with a thin tunnelling barrier between a buried n þ -back contact and a quantum dot layer. In voltage- dependent photoluminescence measurements, we observe rich signatures from spatially direct and indirect transitions from the wetting layer and from a single quantum dot. By analysing the Stark effect, we show that the indirect transitions result from a recombination between confined holes in the wetting or quantum dot layer with electrons from the edge of the Fermi sea in the back contact. Using a 17 nm tunnel barrier which provides comparably weak tunnel coupling allowed us to observe clear signatures of direct and corresponding indirect lines for a series of neutral and positively charged quantum dot states.