A spectroscopic pump-probe method to determine the spatial shape of bound quantum states in semiconductor quantum dots is proposed. The method uses intraband transitions between the bound states and unbound continuum states in the host medium. The developed theoretical scheme is applicable to quantum dots embedded in bulk material and with some modification also for other nanostructures. In particular, the analyzed pump-probe spectra exhibit specific spectral signatures for different spatial extensions of the quantum dot confinement potential.

• Received 10 October 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.201414