Linear and nonlinear optical properties of strained GaN/AlN quantum dots: Effects of impurities, radii of QDs, and the incident optical intensity

The linear and nonlinear optical properties of cylinder GaN/AlN quantum dots with strain effects and impurity are investigated by taking into account the effects of the deformation potential and piezoelectric potential on the conduction band edge. The results are presented as a function of photon energies and QD radii. The optical absorption spectrum and refractive index changes have a blueshift in the presence of the impurity. With increasing distance of the impurity’s position along the growth direction, the peak values of the refractive index changes decrease and shift to higher photon energy. When the sizes of the QDs increase, redshift effects are observed and the relative amplitudes diminish. It can be found that the nonlinear effect becomes obvious with increase of the incident optical intensity. Then there is a “hole-burning” in the absorption coefficient spectra and two new peaks will appear in the total refractive index change spectrum when the optical intensity becomes larger enough. Finally it can be concluded that the intensity of the incident light and the position of the impurity play an important role in the linear and nonlinear optical properties.