Exciton gas compression and metallic condensation in a single semiconductor quantum wire

Abstract

We study the metal-insulator transition in individual self-assembled quantum wires and report optical evidence of metallic liquid condensation at low temperatures. First, we observe that the temperature and power dependence of the single nanowire photoluminescence follow the evolution expected for an electron-hole liquid in one dimension. Second, we find novel spectral features that suggest that in this situation the expanding liquid condensate compresses the exciton gas in real space. Finally, we estimate the critical density and critical temperature of the phase transition diagram at nc∼1×105cm-1 and Tc∼35K, respectively. © 2008 The American Physical Society.