Ultrafast gain recovery and large nonlinear optical response in submonolayer quantum dots

Submonolayer quantum dots combine the zero-dimensional charge-carrier confinement of self-assembled quantum dots with the large density of states of a quantum well. Electroluminescence and pump-probe experiments on a submonolayer-based optical amplifier show that the system exhibits a high gain of 90 cm^-1 and an ultrafast gain recovery. We propose a rate equation system describing the microscopic carrier dynamics which quantitatively reproduces the observed behavior and provides deeper theoretical understanding of the material system. In contrast to Stranski-Krastanov quantum dots, the fast gain recovery is enhanced by a strong interdot coupling. Optically inactive submonolayer states form an efficient carrier reservoir and give rise to a large nonlinear optical response.