The localization of excitons on quantum-dot-like compositional fluctuations has been observed in temperature-dependent near-field magnetophotoluminescence spectra of InGaAsN. Localization is driven by the giant bowing parameter of these alloys and manifests itself by the appearance of ultranarrow lines (half-width $<1\mathrm{}\mathrm{meV}$) at temperatures below 70 K. We show how near-field optical scanning microscopy can be used for the estimation of the size, density, and nitrogen excess of individual compositional fluctuations (clusters), thus revealing random versus phase-separation effects in the distribution of nitrogen.

• Received 4 September 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.277401