We have observed the saturation of intraband absorption in InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots. The investigatedn-doped self-assembled quantum dots exhibit an intraband absorption within the conduction band, which is peaked at an 8 &mgr;m wavelength. The saturation of the intraband absorption is achieved with an infrared pump delivered by a pulsed free-electron laser. The saturation of the transition is observed for an intensity around ≈0.6 MW&hthinsp;cm−2. The electron relaxation time under intraband excitation is measured by time-resolved pump–probe experiments. An electron relaxation timeT1≈3&hthinsp;psis reported. ©1998 American Institute of Physics.