Abstract

Lately, quantum confinement effects in semiconductor microstructures have been studied because of their interesting physics and possible nonlinear optical device applications.^1-2 The basic optical properties of quantum dots (QDs), which exhibit 3D-confinement effects, have recently been discussed theoretically.¹ In this paper, we report a comprehensive experimental study of the steady-state nonlinear optical properties of specially-prepared quantum-confined CdSe microcrystallites suspended in a transparent borosilicate glass matrix.² Three samples were investigated. The average crystallite diameters of these samples were measured using transmission electron microscopy to be 30 Å, 44 Å, and 79 Å, respectively.² For bulk CdSe, the exciton Bohr radius (a_ex) is ≅ 56 Å therefore, our samples fall within the so-called intermediate confinement regime (a_h< R <a_e).^1-2

© 1989 Optical Society of America