In this thesis, the carrier localization effect, the quantum confinement Stark effect (QCSE) and nonlinear optical properties of the as-grown InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-wells (MQWs) structure and nanopillars with diameters of 100 nm and 160 nm and height of 700 nm have been investigated with linear and nonlinear photoluminescence (PL) techniques, In order to investigate the carrier localization effect and QCSE, “S-shaped” temperature dependent PL peak positions of the samples are quantitatively simulated and analyzed with the localized-state ensemble luminescence model. It is found that after nanotexturing both the carrier localization effect and QCSE become weakened. Moreover, the smaller the pillars the weaker the two effects will be. In addition, the nanotexturing introduced the new radiative recombination pathways of carriers are confirmed on the sidewalls of the nanopillars with cathodoluminescence (CL) spectrum and panchromatic CL image. Two-photon absorption (TPA) induced PL spectra of the three samples are measured to investigate the nonlinear optical properties. A peculiar excitation-power dependence, say I~P1.53, of the PL intensity is revealed. It was proposed that a mixed excitation mechanism, namely two-step successive one-photon absorption occurring in the InGaN well layers and one-step two-photon absorption mainly taking place in the GaN barrier and buffer layers, to interpret the observed phenomenon. Besides, the steady-state energetic distribution of carriers excited via this mixed excitation mechanism is very different from that of carriers via one-step one-photon excitation. In contrast with the case of one-photon PL in the samples, the influence of carrier localization effect becomes weaker in the TPA PL of the two nanopillars. / published_or_final_version / Physics / Master / Master of Philosophy

Optical properties of graphene/GaN hybrid structure were investigated by using a variety of optical spectroscopy techniques including low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, time-resolved PL (TRPL) spectroscopy, confocal scanning micro-Raman spectroscopy. Single-layer graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition was transferred to GaN epilayer surface, which is verified by the Raman spectrum with a sharp characteristic peak at ~2690 cm-1and a homogeneous Raman image. Three main band-edge emissions including the free exciton A transition (denoted as FXA), the donor bound exciton transition (denoted as DX) and the third peak (denoted as Ix) were well resolved in the PL spectra of the hybrid structure as well as the as-grown GaN epilayer at low temperatures. Interestingly, the FXA transition and Ix line of the GaN epilayer were found to be dramatically altered by the top graphene layer while the DX is almost unaffected. The intensity of Ix line substantially drops after the transfer of graphene layer on GaN, indicating surface defect nature of the Ix line. More interestingly, an unpredictable dip structure develops in the FXA peak when the temperature is beyond 50 K. Similar spectral structure change also occurred in the emission of free exciton B (referred as FXB)with higher transition energy .A free exciton dissociation and electron transfer model was proposed to explain the “dip effect”. More supporting evidence to the model was found in the time-resolved PL spectra of the hybrid structure and the control sample. The results showed the significant influence of graphene monolayer on the fundamental optical properties of GaN. / published_or_final_version / Physics / Master / Master of Philosophy