Nano-photoluminescence

Abstract

We discuss various modifications of spatially resolved photoluminescence and their application in semiconductor spectroscopy. The methods described are micro-photoluminescence (μ-PL) under global excitation, μ-PL imaging, and their extension to nano-photoluminescence by using a confocal setup in combination with solid immersion lenses (SIL). In particular we outline the implementation of SILs into a μ-PL experiment and demonstrate their merits in terms of enhanced resolution and collection efficiency. We demonstrate the huge potential of spatially resolved photoluminescence by its application in the characterization of extended defects, in the ultra-high precision spectroscopy of electron–phonon coupling, in the detection of coherent and non-thermal transport of excitons on the length scale of the light wavelength, and in single-dot spectroscopy.