Densification and shrinkage of dots at fast Ge growth rate (GR) over 2 nm/min Formation of small and dense Ge dots at low Ge growth temperature (TG) of 450 °C Effective increase in nucleation probability of Ge adatoms at fast GR or low TG Formation of Ge dots about 25 nm in mean diameter and 1.1 × 1011 cm− 2 in density